Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Northrop YF-17

On June 9, 1974, the Northrop YF-17 "Cobra" made its first flight, entering the U.S. Air Force’s Lightweight Fighter competition. Though it lost to the F-16, the YF-17 found new life with the U.S. Navy, evolving into the highly successful F/A-18 Hornet—one of the most versatile carrier-based fighters in modern military aviation.

Austin Hancock
Austin Hancock
YF-17 in 1976 during a demonstration flight
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On June 9, 1974—51 years ago today—the Northrop YF-17 took to the skies for its first flight, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of modern fighter aircraft. Nicknamed the “Cobra” for its sleek design and agility, the YF-17 was Northrop’s entry into the United States Air Force’s Lightweight Fighter (LWF) technology evaluation program. At the time, concerns had arisen that the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, while formidable, was too large and costly to serve in multiple combat roles. The LWF program was launched to identify a smaller, more affordable multirole fighter.

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Frontal view of Northrop YF-17. U.S. Air Force Photo

Although the YF-17 delivered strong performance during flight testing, it ultimately lost out to the General Dynamics YF-16, which went on to become the iconic F-16 Fighting Falcon. But the story didn’t end there. The U.S. Navy, seeking a new carrier-capable strike fighter through its Naval Fighter Attack Experimental (VFAX) program, saw potential in the YF-17’s twin-engine configuration and aerodynamic agility. Northrop teamed up with McDonnell Douglas to adapt and expand the design, which evolved into the F/A-18 Hornet—a versatile and highly successful aircraft that remains in service with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to this day.

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An air-to-air right side view of a YF-16 aircraft and a YF-17 aircraft, side-by-side, armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. U.S. Air Force Photo

The YF-17A was powered by two General Electric YJ101-GE-100 turbojet engines, each producing 9,479 pounds of thrust dry and up to 15,000 pounds with afterburner. The aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 1,320 mph and operate at altitudes up to 60,000 feet. It had a range of 2,800 miles and could withstand forces up to 9.4 Gs. Its intended armament included a 20mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun, as well as four hardpoints for carrying Mk-84 bombs, ECM pods, or external fuel tanks.

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The aircraft was powered by two 14,400-pound-force (64 kN) General Electric YJ101-GE-100 afterburning turbojets. Image via Wikipedia

Only two YF-17s were built, but both aircraft survive today. YF-17A 72-1569 is on display at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, California, while YF-17A 72-1570 can be seen at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama. Though it never entered production, the YF-17 was the critical bridge between Northrop’s fighter designs and the frontline carrier-based F/A-18 Hornet. Its legacy lives on in the skies—and in the lineage of one of the U.S. military’s most enduring jet fighters.

YF 17 72–1570 at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile Alabama
YF-17 72–1570 at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama
Aircorps Art Dec 2019
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Commercial Pilot, CFI, and Museum Entrepreneur, with a subject focus on WWII Aviation. I am dedicated to building flight experience so I can fly WWII Fighters, such as the P-51 Mustang, for museums and airshows, and in the USAF Heritage Flight. I lead and run the Pennington Flight Memorial, to honor local MIA Tuskegee Airman F/O Leland “Sticky” Pennington.
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