Anigrand Craftswork ANIG2023 1:72 Northrop YF-17 Cobra

Northrop YF-17 Cobra. In 1965, Northrop began a fighter project, P-530 with a new concept, a pair of Leading Edge Root Extension (LERX) for the main wings that tapered into the fuselage for exceeding attack angles. The shape of LERX looks like a cobra head so it was named Cobra. In 1972, USAF launched the Lightweight Fighter program that called for a small, lightweight, low cost, air superiority day fighter designed for a high performance. Northrop submitted the P-530 (received designation YF-17) to the program in competition with the General-Dynamics Model 401 (General-Dynamics F-16) and the Lockheed CL-1200 (later became X-21). USAF ordered two prototypes to Northrop, the first YF-17 took off on its first flight in 1974. It became the first U.S. fi ghter to exceed sound speed in flight without used afterburner. In 1975, USAF announced that General-Dynamics F-16 was selected as the winner of the contest since General-Dynamics F-16 was a little faster and had a better specific range than the YF-17. Navy also evaluated the YF-17 and was interested in a strengthened version. Northrop teamed with McDonnell-Douglas to develop this fighter that evolved into the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet