Lockheed YF-22 Lightning II
The Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics YF-22 was a prototype fighter aircraft designed for the United States Air Force. The YF-22 was a finalist in the United States Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter competition, and examples were built. The YF-22 won the contest against the Northrop YF-23, and entered production as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The YF-22 is similar to the F-22, but with differences in the cockpit, tail fins and wings.
Design and development
The USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program was conceived in the early 1980s, to provide a replacement for the F-15 Eagle.[1] The Air Force issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the fighter in September 1985, then modified the RFP to include flying prototypes in the final selection.[2] Proposals were submitted by Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed, Northrop, and McDonnell Douglas in July 1986.[3] Lockheed and Northrop were selected in October 1986 for the demonstration phase, ending in a flyoff of prototypes. The companies had previously agreed to form the Lockheed/ General Dynamics/Boeing team and Northrop/McDonnell Douglas team.[4]
The Lockheed team designed the YF-22 and the Northrop team designed the YF-23. Two examples of each prototype were built for the Demonstration-Validation phase: one with General Electric YF120 engines, the other with Pratt & Whitney YF119 engines.[5][6]
The YF-22 first flew on 29 September 1990.[7] Flight testing began afterwards and added the second aircraft for each competitor in late October 1990.[8] The YF-22 with GE engines achieved Mach 1.58 in supercruise.[9] Flight testing continued until December 1990. Following flight testing, the contractor teams submitted proposals for ATF production.
TECHNICAL NOTES (F-22A):
Armament: One 20mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon, six AIM-120C AMRAAM and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles in internal weapons bays, provisions for external fuel tanks and weapons on four mount points
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100s of approx. 35,000 lbs. thrust each with afterburner (one YF-22 had General Electric F120-GE-100 turbofans, engine competition won by P&W)
Maximum speed: Approx. Mach 2.0
Service ceiling: Approx. 65,000 ft. (ATF design spec)
Span: 44 ft. 6 in.
Length: 62 ft. 1 in.
Height: 16 ft. 5 in.
Weight: 58,000 lbs. takeoff (YF-22/ATF design spec)
Crew: One
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