wb9omc@ea.ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick) (07/24/90)
From: wb9omc@ea.ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick) The "F19" designation appears to be pretty much fictional..... What IS for real are the YF22 and YF23 prototypes of the so-called ATF, or Advanced Technology Fighter which is slated to eventually "replace" the F15 Eagle. (whether it ever gets funded or not is entirely another matter) ATF is essentially Stealth, 2nd generation. You will find that looking at the Northrop entry into the competition for the ATF contract, the YF23, you have something that appears quite similar to what Testor's corporation orginally released in kit form as the F19 Stealth Fighter. I suspect that they were probably seeing drawings for the ATF. The Lockheed entry is known as the YF22 (I haven't seen a real photograph of this bird yet) which is, I believe, produced by the legendary Skunk Works (advanced projects division of Lockheed....great name!). It is possible that at one time the Air Force procurement folks may have actually had a project called the F19 (YF19 more likely; this seems to be used commonly for prototype fighters). It would fall into sequence of things very nicely, with the F117a (Nighthawk, possibly) being flukey, and possibly having the high number to confuse us. :-) Duane