What if Aircraft

Kwaig said:

The YF 23 was superior to the YF 22 and the F23 engines certainly better than the 119s but at the end of the day as usual politics and short sightedness won over. Most likely the F23s of today would be powered by uprated F120 variable cycle engines!

Don't get me wrong the Raptor is amazing but the Black Widow had it won would've been even better!

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The engine competition was separate. The two prototypes from the two competing groups were each installed with different engines.

YF-23 PAV1 had YF119 while PAV2 had YF120. YF-22 PAV1 had YF120 installed and PAV2 had YF119

YF-22 PAV1 was faster than the YF-23 PAV1, but the YF-23 PAV2 blasted into still classified top speed. People directly involved in the program put it as "much faster" that any YF-22.

The key breakthrough was the YF120 engine. YF-23 itself was considered technically superior in several aspects, but the USAF probably made the right decision in going with the F-22. It seems USAF was very skeptical of Northrop's teams ability to deliver the plane especially on budget considering their previous experiences (B-2 IIRC??). Another big problem was the YF-23's proposed weapons release mechanism. There was no working system and the design was complicated and messy and if jammed, the entire payload may have been rendered unusable. In contrast LM team actually fired AIM-9 and AIM-120 from their prototypes. It was a simpler systems and it was working. ATF requirement did not mandate a working weapons release system but LM demo only increased the USAF's confidence in them.

Although little promoted, it was presented as one of the most ambitious plans ever faced by the FAMA, the SAIA 90 was the final development of stepping stones, staring with the Pucara step, Pampa step, and the light wieght fighter. Although they did not see the light of day, was undoubtedly the last great challenge aeronautics technology in Argentina.



This began with the then need faced in the early 80s, the FAA envisioned the need for a multirole fighter able to replace its fleet of Mirage III / V / Finger.

The Staff of the Air Force had been analyzed various options for fighters, such as the purchasing units abroad, which implied a high level of dependence, combined with the fresh memory of the restrictions for fighters in this way, because the South Atlantic conflict, this was toward the design, development and production of a national model with assistance from Dornier.



The aircraft would have had trapezoid plane wings, tail and the ability to reach supersonic speeds without the use of auxiliary burners (supercruiser), using two bypass turbofan engines low 16,000 lbs. of thrust for a maximum weight of 25,000 lbs apparatus. in order to provide high strength in combat and low life cycle cost.

One of my favorite LCA aircraft. Too bad it never came to be






Specifications (F-20)

General characteristics
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 47 ft 4 in (14.4 m)
Wingspan: 27 ft 11.9 in / 8.53 m; with wingtip missiles (26 ft 8 in/ 8.13 m; without wingtip missiles)
Height: 13 ft 10 in (4.20 m)
Wing area: 200 ft² (18.6 m²)
Empty weight: 13,150 lb (5,964 kg)
Loaded weight: 15,480 lb (7,021 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 27,500 lb (12,474 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F404-GE-100 turbofan, 17,000 lbf (76 kN)


Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2 (1,319 miles, 2,123 km per hour)
Combat radius: 300 nmi (345 mi, 556 km) ; for hi-lo-hi mission with 2 × 330 US gal (1,250 L) drop tanks
Ferry range: 1,490 nmi (1715 mi, 2759 km) ; with 3 × 330 US gal (1,250 L) drop tanks
Service ceiling: 55,000 ft (16,800 m)
Rate of climb: 52,800 ft/min (255 m/s)
Wing loading: 81.0 lb/ft² (395 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.1

Armament
Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.79 in) Pontiac M39A2 cannons in the nose, 280 rounds each
Hardpoints: 5 external hardpoints with a capacity of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of bombs, missiles, rockets and up to 3 drop tanks for extended range
Rockets: 2 × CRV7 rocket pods Or
2 × LAU-10 rocket pods with 4 × Zuni 5 in (127 mm) rockets each Or
2 × Matra rocket pods with 18 × SNEB 68 mm rockets each
Missiles: 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinders on wingtip launch rails (similar to F-16 and F/A-18)
Up to 4 x AIM-7 Sparrows on underwing launch rails
AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles on hardpoints
Bombs: Various air-to-ground ordnance such as Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs), CBU-24/49/52/58 cluster bomb munitions, M129 Leaflet bomb

Avionics
General Electric AN/APG-67

The mother of all what if aircrafts the AVRO CF-105 Arrow. The cancellation of this plane has spun a cottage industry of books, movie, documentaries, fan clubs and conspiracy theories in Canada.





Crew: 2
Length: 77 ft 9 in (23.71 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Height: 21 ft 2 in (6.25 m)
Wing area: 1,225 ft² (113.8 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 0003.5 mod root, NACA 0003.8 tip
Empty weight: 49,040 lb (22,245 kg)
Loaded weight: 56,920 lb (25,820 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 68,605 lb (31,120 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J75-P-3 turbojets
Dry thrust: 12,500 lbf (55.6 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 23,500 lbf (104.53 kN) each

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 1.98 (1,307 mph, 2,104 km/h) at 50,000 ft (15,000 m) max. recorded speed; Mach 2+ potential
Cruise speed: Mach 0.91 (607 mph, 977 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
Combat radius: 360 NM (410 mi, 660 km)
Service ceiling: 53,000 ft (16,150 m)
Wing loading: 46.5 lb/ft² (226.9 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.825 at loaded weight

Armament

Rockets: 1–4× AIR-2 Genie unguided nuclear rockets[citation needed] or
Missiles: Up to 8× AIM-4 Falcon, Canadair Velvet Glove (cancelled 1956) or 3 AIM-7 Sparrow II 2D active guidance missiles (cancelled)

Avionics

Hughes MX-1179 fire control system

The IAI Lavi. Another cancelled plane that is still stirring emotions today. From Israeli generals to Israeli fanboys still lament the cancellation of this plane.





Someone painted a J-10AS model in Israeli color schemes.



General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 14.57 m (47 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 8.78 m (28 ft 10 in)
Height: 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 33.0 m² (355 ft²)
Empty weight: 7,031 kg (15,500 lb)
Loaded weight: 9,991 kg (22,025 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 19,277 kg (42,500 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PW1120 afterburning turbofan, 91.5 kN (20,600 lbf)

Performance

Maximum speed: 1,965 km/h / Mach 1.6 (1,220 mph)
Range: 3,700 km (2,300 mi)
Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 254 m/s (50,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 303.2 kg/m² (62.0 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.94

Armament

1 × 30 mm DEFA cannon
7,260 kg (16,000 lb) of stores

Miragedriver said:

One of my favorite LCA aircraft. Too bad it never came to be

Specifications (F-20)

General characteristics
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 47 ft 4 in (14.4 m)
Wingspan: 27 ft 11.9 in / 8.53 m; with wingtip missiles (26 ft 8 in/ 8.13 m; without wingtip missiles)
Height: 13 ft 10 in (4.20 m)
Wing area: 200 ft² (18.6 m²)
Empty weight: 13,150 lb (5,964 kg)
Loaded weight: 15,480 lb (7,021 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 27,500 lb (12,474 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F404-GE-100 turbofan, 17,000 lbf (76 kN)


Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2 (1,319 miles, 2,123 km per hour)
Combat radius: 300 nmi (345 mi, 556 km) ; for hi-lo-hi mission with 2 × 330 US gal (1,250 L) drop tanks
Ferry range: 1,490 nmi (1715 mi, 2759 km) ; with 3 × 330 US gal (1,250 L) drop tanks
Service ceiling: 55,000 ft (16,800 m)
Rate of climb: 52,800 ft/min (255 m/s)
Wing loading: 81.0 lb/ft² (395 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.1

Armament
Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.79 in) Pontiac M39A2 cannons in the nose, 280 rounds each
Hardpoints: 5 external hardpoints with a capacity of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of bombs, missiles, rockets and up to 3 drop tanks for extended range
Rockets: 2 × CRV7 rocket pods Or
2 × LAU-10 rocket pods with 4 × Zuni 5 in (127 mm) rockets each Or
2 × Matra rocket pods with 18 × SNEB 68 mm rockets each
Missiles: 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinders on wingtip launch rails (similar to F-16 and F/A-18)
Up to 4 x AIM-7 Sparrows on underwing launch rails
AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles on hardpoints
Bombs: Various air-to-ground ordnance such as Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs), CBU-24/49/52/58 cluster bomb munitions, M129 Leaflet bomb

Avionics
General Electric AN/APG-67

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Yes, the F-20. She would be a good design for a nation like Argentina now if upgraded to shoot the latest missiles.

Franklin said:

The mother of all what if aircrafts the AVRO CF-105 Arrow. The cancellation of this plane has spun a cottage industry of books, movie, documentaries, fan clubs and conspiracy theories in Canada.

Crew: 2
Length: 77 ft 9 in (23.71 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Height: 21 ft 2 in (6.25 m)
Wing area: 1,225 ft² (113.8 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 0003.5 mod root, NACA 0003.8 tip
Empty weight: 49,040 lb (22,245 kg)
Loaded weight: 56,920 lb (25,820 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 68,605 lb (31,120 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J75-P-3 turbojets
Dry thrust: 12,500 lbf (55.6 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 23,500 lbf (104.53 kN) each

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 1.98 (1,307 mph, 2,104 km/h) at 50,000 ft (15,000 m) max. recorded speed; Mach 2+ potential
Cruise speed: Mach 0.91 (607 mph, 977 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
Combat radius: 360 NM (410 mi, 660 km)
Service ceiling: 53,000 ft (16,150 m)
Wing loading: 46.5 lb/ft² (226.9 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.825 at loaded weight

Armament

Rockets: 1–4× AIR-2 Genie unguided nuclear rockets[citation needed] or
Missiles: Up to 8× AIM-4 Falcon, Canadair Velvet Glove (cancelled 1956) or 3 AIM-7 Sparrow II 2D active guidance missiles (cancelled)

Avionics

Hughes MX-1179 fire control system

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YES! I was going to include the CF-105 Arrow.

A GREAT aircraft that became a target and then a causality of pure internal corporate and international politics.

She would have been good for Canada for decades.

Here's are the pics I was going to use:

In my opinion the best, absolute best modern bomber that was never put into production.

The XB-70 Valkyrie.

Speed: Mach 3.1
Altitude: 80,000 ft.
Empty Weight: 253,000 lbs
MAx Load: 542,000 ibs




But to carry THAT much of a load (289,000 lbs) at 80,000+ ft and Mach 3.1...man oh man, such a bomber if we had them in numbers (say 150 of them) would be a very potent and hard to beat force today.

Piranha would have been an excellent replacement for the F-5E

After the Swiss government cancelled the and an order for 100 , the Swiss aviation industry and the made a final attempt to build their own Swiss fighter aircraft. The plans called for a small fighter plane similar in class to the E, which the Swiss Air Force later ordered.



In the 1960s and 1970s, modern military aircraft equipment was too expensive for small states to afford. The increase in the cost of flight material and weapons resulted in reductions in fleet sizes and capacity of service branches of small states to perform in combat. The strategy for the ALR Piranha was to deliver a design that would utilize common parts that could be built to support multiple mission types; air and ground attack, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and operational training. The result was a fighter plane with significantly reduced size relative to the F-5E (20% smaller surface).

The Piranha design was of arrangement, with a , low main wing of near-delta plan. Seven hard-points for weapons were planned, with four under-wing pylons and one on the aircraft center line rated at 500 kilograms (1,100 lb), plus rails on the aircraft's wingtips for air-to-air missiles such as the or the . A single cannon, either the heavy, powerful 30 mm or the lighter , would be mounted on the aircraft's center line, with the nose wheel slightly offset as a result.



The ALR would have been equipped with avionics, radar, armament and engines from abroad, and a laser seeking sensor in front of the cockpit. In the single-engine model design, air brakes would be located on the sides of the rear hull. In the twin-engine version, the two air brake flaps would be mounted on the upper fuselage near the vertical tail.

The ALR Piranha would have been either a single-engine version, powered by , or or a twin-engine model with two . In the two models, only the rear portion of the aircraft would differ in size, affecting the arrangement of the parachute container and the air brakes.

Although the Swiss government lost interest in the project, prototype remote-controlled model ALR Piranha airplanes did reach the wind-tunnel and flight testing phase. A life-size mock cockpit was also constructed

Link:

The Yak-141 was an aircraft that the Soviets would have gone on to complete...but they went bankrupt instead.

it along with many other ambitious projects were cancelled in 1991, never to see the light of day again.

This fighter, though not stealthy, would have given the Soviet and then later Russian airwngs something very credible to fly off of their four Kiev class carriers: