F-22 Raptor Vs YF-22 Black widow II

The YF-22A and YF-23A in Contrast
To meet the very same specifications that had been listed by ATF planners in September
1983, the seven ATF airframe contractors came up with fundamentally similar designs in
terms of wing area, sweep, and general size. The Lockheed and Northrop designs were perhaps
the most different of all, with the YF-23A appearing slim and almost sensuous in
design, and the YF-22A appearing shorter, with an angular muscularity. TheYF-22A's angularity
provides a stealthy quality, and stems from its F-117 Stealth Fighter ancestry.
YF-22A
The Lockheed YF-22A features a single-seat cockpit covered by a large, high-visibility
canopy. The two engines are mounted close together on the centerline of the 38-ft-long
fuselage, which is 20 ft wide at its broadest point. The engines are fed by diamond-shaped
intakes. There are three internal weapons bays: one on either side of the fuselage, and the
other mounted ventrally on centerline. The airplane has two fixed, outward-canted vertical
stabilizers with large-area trailing-edge rudders, and twin all-movable tailplanes that double
as horizontal stabilizers and elevators (stabilators). Its all-movable, close-coupled stabilators
mount in line with the very thin, semi-trapezoid-shaped wings and actually overlap them. The wing's notched inboard trailing edge permits stabilator and flap clearance. The
wing is swept back 48° at the leading edge, and swept forward about 15° at the trailing edge.
The wings incorporate leading-edge flaps, inboard
trailing-edge flaps, and outboard ailerons for lift and
maneuverability. The YF-22A was equipped with twodimensional,
thrust-vectoring engine exhaust nozzles,
and these may have been important in its final selection
as the competition winner.

YF-23A
The Northrop YF-23A was one of the most beautiful
fighter aircraft in history, its blended body and shielded
engine intakes giving it a very sleek appearance and a
clear relationship to the Northrop Grumman B-2A
Spirit. There are no corners or right angles, and the surfaces
have no creases or sharp folds. Like its counterpart,
it also features a single-seat cockpit arrangement
with engines mounted close to the centerline, with
ventral air inlets. Engine installation is unusual. The
intakes are placed under the wing (so as to ensure high
angle-of-attack maneuvering capability) while the
engines are canted upward into separate blended bodies.
The long slender fuselage has chines not unlike
those of the SR-71 or the Northrop YF-17.
The broad wing is triangular in shape and tapers into
the fuselage. Its leading edge is swept back 40°, while
the trailing edge is swept forward by the same amount.
The YF-23 has a V-tail which works in roll, pitch, and
yaw. Two large all-moving tailplanes are canted outward
at 50°. The wing features leading edge flaps, inboard
flaps, and ailerons that droop. The trailing-edge controls
function normally—with ailerons providing roll control and flaps increasing lift—but they also serve as
speed brakes and rudders. In its general appearance,
the YF-23A appears to be optimized for high lift and low
drag, and thus for long range and high speed.

TABLE 2-3 YF-22A Specifications TABLE 2-4 YF-23A Specifications
Propulsion system Two 35,000-lb thrust class P&W
YF119-PW-100 afterburning turbofan
engines (PAV-1), or two
35,000-lb thrust class GE YF120-
GE-100 afterburning turbofan
engines (PAV-2)
Wingspan
Wing area
Length
Height
Empty weight
Gross weight
Service ceiling
Maximum speed
43 ft, 0 in (13 m)
830 sq ft
64 ft, 2 in (19.6 m)
17 ft, 8.9 in (5.4 m)
31,000 Ib (estimated)
62,000 Ib (estimated)
65,000 ft (estimated)
Win 2.2+ (Mn 1.5+ in supercruise)
Propulsion system Two 35,000-lb thrust class P&W
YF119-PW-100 afterburning turbofan
engines (PAV-1), or two
35,000-lb thrust class GE YF120-
GE-100 afterburning turbofan
engines (PAV-2)
Wingspan
Wing area
Length
Height
Empty weight
Gross weight
Service ceiling
Maximum speed
43 ft, 7 in (13.3 m)
900 sq ft
67 ft, 5 in (20.6 m)
13 ft, 11 in (4.3 m)
29,000 Ib (estimated)
62,000 Ib (estimated)
65,000 ft (estimated)

Mn 2.2+ (Mn 1.5+ in supercruise)