
Maneuverablity was very close, with the YF-23 having an edge at higher speeds (transonic), while the YF-22 was better in the slow speed regime. The YF-23 also had a much lower RCS than the YF-22. The GE powered PAV-2 "unofficially" supercruised at a bit better than M 1.8, and this was with pre-production GE YF-120 engines, which gave PAV-2 a much better T/W ratio.
The YF-23 also would have gone through a gestation somewhat similar to the YF-22. For example, the prototypes engine nacelles were squared off at the top, which were like that to accomodate the cancelled requirement for thrust reversers. The production aircraft would have had smaller nacelles rounded on the top which would have reduced its RCS even further. The inlets also would have been much different on production aircraft, and I won't be specific because it probably is still classified.
I saw Roscoe talking about the missile firings from the YF-22,and made me think of the first AIM-9 firing from the side bay. The rocket plume was ingested by the engine, forcing a shutdown and an emergency being declared. Someone posted earlier that one of the YF-23's crashed. Not true,they both performed very well in Dem/Val. It actually was a YF-22 that pancaked into the ground due to PIO (and a software glitch).
As far as I know, there are only two people to have flown both aircraft,one being (then) USAF Maj. Con Thueson during Dem/Val, and the other being Paul Metz who became Lockheed's Chief Test Pilot after leaving Northrop,where he was also Chief Test Pilot. If you ever meet him,ask him which he liked better.
The YF-23 also would have gone through a gestation somewhat similar to the YF-22. For example, the prototypes engine nacelles were squared off at the top, which were like that to accomodate the cancelled requirement for thrust reversers. The production aircraft would have had smaller nacelles rounded on the top which would have reduced its RCS even further. The inlets also would have been much different on production aircraft, and I won't be specific because it probably is still classified.
I saw Roscoe talking about the missile firings from the YF-22,and made me think of the first AIM-9 firing from the side bay. The rocket plume was ingested by the engine, forcing a shutdown and an emergency being declared. Someone posted earlier that one of the YF-23's crashed. Not true,they both performed very well in Dem/Val. It actually was a YF-22 that pancaked into the ground due to PIO (and a software glitch).
As far as I know, there are only two people to have flown both aircraft,one being (then) USAF Maj. Con Thueson during Dem/Val, and the other being Paul Metz who became Lockheed's Chief Test Pilot after leaving Northrop,where he was also Chief Test Pilot. If you ever meet him,ask him which he liked better.
