Hobby Master 2850 1/72 YF-23 Gray Ghost PAV-2, AF ser.no.87-0801,1990 with 3 xAIM-120,2 xAIM-9

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.

Specifications

• Crew: 1
• Length: 67 ft 5 in (20.55 m)
• Wingspan: 43 ft 7 in (13.28 m)
• Height: 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)
• Wing area: 950 sq ft (88 m2)
• Weight
  • Empty: 29,000 lb (13,154 kg) contractor weight (without engines)
  • Maximum Take-Off: 64,000 lb (29,030 kg) takeoff, 51,320 lb (23,280 kg) combat weight
  • Powerplant : 2 × Pratt & Whitney YF119-PW-100N or General Electric YF120-GE-100N afterburning turbofans, 23,500 lbf (105 kN) thrust each (YF120) dry, 30,000 or
  • 35,000 lbf (130 or 160 kN) with afterburner
• Performance
  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.2, 1,452 mph (1,262 kn; 2,337 km/h) at high altitude
  • Supercruise: Mach 1.72, 1,135 mph (986 kn; 1,827 km/h) at altitude
  • Range: 2,424 nmi (2,789 mi, 4,489 km)
  • Combat range: 700–800 nmi (810–920 mi, 1,300–1,500 km)
  • Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (19,800 m)
  • G limits: +7.1 g (highest tested)
  • Wing loading: 67.4 lb/sq ft (329 kg/m2) (54 lb/sq ft at combat weight)
  • Thrust/weight: 1.09 (1.36 at combat weight)
• Armament
  • 4 × AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missiles
  • 1 × 20 mm (0.79 in) M61 Vulcan cannon
  • 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles