YF-113G (From AW&ST)

[Sundog]

'The U.S. Air Force's YF-113G aircraft has been identified as a 1970s stealth testbed and as a MiG-23, but both of these are wrong, according to an observer and some USAF documentation ( AW&ST Apr. 10, 2000, p. 18; Apr. 17, 2000, p. 33). The YF-113G was a "classified prototype" that was brought "from design to first flight" in a "classified flight test squadron" in the 1993-96 time frame. The statement that the YF-113G was a prototype that went from design to first flight rules out the MiG-23 explanation, though the confusion is understandable as USAF MiGs do go by other YF-112 and YF-113 designations, such as YF-113B and YF-113E. It's not clear which company built the YF-113G, but it was probably not Lockheed. The aircraft was manned.'

Any guesses as to what this aircraft was? I have heard reports of a Manned Tailess Fighter having flown which used active camoflauge (It could change the Luminescence of the skin). Or could this be the prototype for the so called Switch Blade, the F-111 replacement? Why don't we ever get pictures when they make statements such as this!    
Since they think it wasn't Lockheed, I am ruling out the X-44 MANTA (Which is supposedly just a proposal right now).

[This message has been edited by Sundog (edited 05-14-2001).]

[funked]

Wow I did not know about this.  I was also under the impression that the YF-113 designations belonged to the "Red Hats" at Groom Lake.

This reminds me of a discussion I had this weekend with a friend from China.  He said that some new radar technologies were making stealth aircraft vulnerable.  I reminded him of the following:  B-2 and F-117 are 25 year old technology, and we didn't know about them until 10 years ago.  So it seems quite possible that there is some 15 year old technology flying around that we don't know about yet.  

[funked]

Read this one: http://airbase.uka.ru/log/2000/04/18e.htm

It looks like maybe the report of this aircraft as a stealth plane was an error.  Or is this just damage control.  

Also this one is interesting, "look under aircraft flown":  http://www.eglin.af.mil/33fw/fwstaff/wingcc.htm

[Dinger]

Check the time frame.  He flew MiG-23s in the SW US in the 80s.

[Sundog]

BTW funked,

I have heard reports that the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia was not accidently bombed by us....that it was intentional. There were reports that the Chinese were actually testing Bi-Static RADAR, with their embassy as one of the sites and working with the local forces to shoot down the F-117's. Apparently another one (F-117) was 'painted and tracked' but managed to evade. I can neither confirm nor deny any of this, only that this is what I have heard.

SD

Edit: What Dinger Said (From Funkeds Second Link):

4.    January 1986 - April 1988, chief of weapons and tactics and flight commander, 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Aircraft flown:  AT-38, YF-110, YF-113, T-38, F-15A/B/C/D


[This message has been edited by Sundog (edited 05-15-2001).]

[funked]

 

Check the time frame. He flew MiG-23s in the SW US in the 80s.

No toejam Sherlock(s).