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Northrop YF-17 (Cobra)


Technology Demonstrator Aircraft


United States | 1972



"Originally a product intended for the USAF, the YF-17 Cobra earned her wings with the USN as the FA-18 Hornet."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Northrop YF-17A (Cobra) Technology Demonstrator Aircraft.
2 x General Electric YJ101-100 afterburning turbojet engines developing 14,400lb thrust each.
Propulsion
1,496 mph
2,407 kph | 1,300 kts
Max Speed
49,213 ft
15,000 m | 9 miles
Service Ceiling
2,989 miles
4,811 km | 2,598 nm
Operational Range
50,000 ft/min
15,240 m/min
Rate-of-Climb
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Northrop YF-17A (Cobra) Technology Demonstrator Aircraft.
1
(MANNED)
Crew
55.8 ft
17.00 m
O/A Length
114.8 ft
(35.00 m)
O/A Width
16.4 ft
(5.00 m)
O/A Height
17,196 lb
(7,800 kg)
Empty Weight
34,348 lb
(15,580 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Northrop YF-17 (Cobra) Technology Demonstrator Aircraft .
AS TESTED/PROPOSED:
1 x 20mm Vulcan internal cannon
2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder Air-to-Air (AA) missiles on wingtips
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Northrop YF-17 (Cobra) family line.
YF-17 "Cobra" - Technology demonstrator
F/A-18 "Hornet" - Larger / heavier variant based on the YF-17.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/19/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The YF-17 Cobra was a Northrop Aviation creation through NASA to support further testing and research of aircraft at transonic speeds (meaning just underneath the speed of sound, or 700-780mph / 1,127-1,255kph). The YF-17 Cobra was, itself, born from the United States Air Force's Lightweight Fighter Program.

The Lightweight Fighter Program called for a prototype that was small and low cost / maintenance, with the capabilities of an air superiority day fighter. Though losing out to the General Dynamics YF-16 (later to become the F-16 Fighting Falcon), the YF-17 would see bluer skies in the form of the later F/A-18 Hornet aboard the carrier of the United States Navy.

After the failed LWF fly-off competition for the YF-17 Cobra, tests began with NASA over a seven week period that included in-flight pressure data recorded through sensors from all over the aircraft airframe, studies in transonic maneuverability, and stability and control factors in controlled forty-five minute long flights.

In the end, the YF-17 Cobra would set the stage for the first prototypes and production models of the highly successful F/A-18 series of aircraft, leading up to the "Super Hornet" design and the eventual successor to the much regarded F-14 Tomcat series of carrier-based interceptors.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Northrop YF-17 (Cobra). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 2 Units

Contractor(s): Nothrop Aviation - USA
National flag of the United States

[ United States (cancelled) ]
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Going Further...
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