YF-118G Bird of Prey: The Secret History of a Groundbreaking Stealth Demonstrator
Developed in secret during the 1990s, the McDonnell Douglas YF-118G Bird of Prey was a technology demonstrator crucial to modern stealth aircraft. Funded entirely by the company for $67 million, the project aimed to validate cutting-edge, low-cost manufacturing techniques for composite structures. Its radical, aerodynamically unstable design tested new concepts in shaping and materials that reduced radar cross-section. While it never entered production, the subsonic aircraft successfully completed 39 test flights. The lessons learned from the Bird of Prey directly influenced subsequent programs, including the Boeing X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle.
Official Source: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/yf-118g-bird-prey-stealth-aircraft-history-forgot-about-210734
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