YF-23 Prototype

Plastic model kit to build a YF-23 prototype

• Scale 1:48
• Dimensions (built): length 445mm / wingspan 292mm
• 90+ parts
• Clear parts included
• not built, not painted
• Paint and glue not included

The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 was a fighter aircraft prototype developed for the United States Air Force. The YF-23 was a finalist in the US Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter competition. The YF-23 lost the competition to the Lockheed YF-22, which went into production as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

The YF-23 was designed to meet the USAF's requirements for survivability, supersonic speed (supercruise), stealth and ease of maintenance. During development, stealth in all aspects was considered the top priority. The YF-23 was an unconventional looking aircraft with trapezoidal wings, considerable surface area and a V-tail. Similar to the B-2, the exhaust from the YF-23's engines passed through gutters lined with heat ablation tiles, which protected the exhaust from infrared missile detection from below. The wing flaps and ailerons deflected in opposite directions on both sides to produce a roll motion. Pitch was produced by the movement of both V-tails, yaw by the opposite movement. Deflecting the wing flaps down and the ailerons up on both sides simultaneously provided aerodynamic braking.