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American Combat Planes of the 20th Century is an incredible reference for anyone who is interested in any American Combat Plane History. There are 758 pages and 1700 b/w photos in this substantial labor of love by Ray Wagner, who has been passionately researching and writing about aircraft for over 50 years. Whether you are already familiar with his past works, or just discovering this accomplished author for the first time... This is the book that you've been waiting for!

If you'd like to see the book's Table of Contents ... Click here. You can also browse the entire Index Section to get an idea of the extensive amount of information that is covered within this book.

Search our site for other combat planes. A- 1 Eaton A- 4 Skyhawk A- 6 & A- 7 Air Weapons AV- 8 to A- 10 A- 20 Havoc A- 22 Martin Maryland A- 23 Martin Baltimore A- 24 Douglas A- 26 Douglas Invader Attack Planes B- 2A, F-111, F-117 Stealth B- 17 Flying Fortress B- 24 Liberator B- 25 North American B- 26 Marauder B- 29 Superfortress B- 32 Dominator B- 35 Flying Wing B- 36 B- 47 Stratojet B- 50 Boeing B- 52 Stratofortress B- 57 Canberra B- 58 Hustler Biplanes Biplanes, Army Pursuits Bombers, B- 70 to Stealth Bombers, First Big Curtiss Falcon CO- 1 DH- 4 De Havilland F3D- Douglas Skyknight F3H- McDonnell Demon F4D- 1 Skyray F4F Grumman Wildcats F- 4U Corsair F6F Grumman F7F Grumman F7U Vought F9F G. Cougar F9F G. Panther F- 16 Fighting Falcon F- 84 F- 86 Sabre F- 89 to F-94 F- 100 to F-108 First Fighters Flying Boats GAX Iraq to Afghanistan Martin Bombers Missile Era Fighters Navy Fighers Navy Flying Boats O- 2 Douglas P- 35 Seversky P- 36 to 42 Curtiss P- 38 Lightning P- 39 Airacobra P- 40 Line P- 47 Thunderbolt P- 51 Mustang Fighter P- 61 Black Widow P- 63 Kingcobra P- 79 to P-81 P- 82 Twin Mustang SB2C Helldiver TBF-TBM Avenger Thomas-Morse Torpedo Planes V- 11 Vultee XB -28 XP -48 / 77

Iraq to Afghanistan

YF-22, YF-23

Page 3

NORTHROP McDONNELL-DOUGLAS YF-23 The days of the individual design genius were over, long gone with the drafting table and slide rule. Collective computer analysis, debates, and decisions were continuous, although secure from outside observers. The first YF-22 drawings were formally released to the Fort Worth factory on April 1, 1988. Parts were flown from there and from Seattle to Burbank for assembly.

First flown on August 27, 1990, the rival Northrop YF-23 differed in having a flatter fuselage with intakes under the wings for the twin General Electric YF120 engine. The second YF-23 flew on October 26, but the YF-22 would be more successful..

General Electric YF-120-GE-100 vectored-thrust engines powered the first YF-22 flight from Palmdale on September 29, 1990, by Lockheed test pilot Dave Furguson, and the second YF-22 flew October 30 with Pratt & Whitney YF119-PW-100 engines. Supersonic cruise and inflight refueling were soon demonstrated, while AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles were fired from the weapons bay. LOCKHEED MARTIN YF-22

Nine production F-22A Raptors ordered in August 1991, had numerous design modifications. The wing sweep was reduced from 48 to 42 degrees, the main wheels folded sideways, and the cockpit and inlets refined. Seven years after the prototype, the first F-22A flight was on September 7, 1997, at the Lockheed Georgia factory. Weapons arrangements include an M61A gun with 480 rounds, with a bay for six AIM-120C, or two such missiles and two 1,000-pound GBU-32 JDAM guided glider bombs.

How many F-22As will be produced in the 21st century depends on the annual budget. Costs and reliability have become as important as superior performance in selecting the American combat planes of the next decade.

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