Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA2851YF-23 "Black Widow II" PAV-1, 87-0800, 1990
General Background
In the 1980s, the USAF sought a replacement for its F-15 fighter to address emerging threats like the Soviet Union's Su-27 and MiG-29, leading to design proposals from several companies. Northrop and McDonnell Douglas developed the YF-23, while Lockheed, Boeing, and General Dynamics created the YF-22. Although the YF-23 was faster and stealthier, it lacked the agility of the YF-22. After four years of evaluation, the YF-22 was chosen in 1991, resulting in the F-22 Raptor, which first flew in 1997 and entered service in 2005. Plans for a naval version as an F-14 replacement were later canceled due to costs. After flight testing, the YF-23 prototypes were put into storage and considered for further research projects that never materialized. Today, the two YF-23 prototypes can be seen at the National Museum of the United States Air Force and the Western Museum of Flight.
