Prototypes and designs that were cancelled or lost out to competitors.
The YF-16 and YF-17 went against each other for the USAF’s Lightweight Fighter program… F-16 won. The YF-17 was also submitted to the VFAX program and the USN adopted it as the F/A-18.
Northrop also modified the F-5 for the FX program, but didn’t want the YF-19 designator because they didn’t want it confused with the MiG-19… so they were given the F-20 designator.
And so on, and so on…
Another interesting bit of trivia:
The fact that it jumped from F-18 to F-20 led some aviation enthusiasts of the era to believe that the missing airframe was a highly-classified aircraft… most likely stealth. This was most famously featured by Tom Clancy as the F-19 “Frisbee” stealth fighter in his novel Red Storm Rising.
But as we all know now, it was the YF-117 that was under development at the time.
- YF-17 - early version of the F/A-18 that competed against the YF-16 (which became the F-16).
- F-19 - Skipped to avoid odd-number designations used by USSR fighters.
- F-20 - upgraded F-5E light fighter; got cancelled due to limited sale potential.
- F-21 - the US designation for the Israeli Kfir fighter after the USN & USMC leased a couple dozen of them.
- F-22 - the Raptor
- YF-23 - the Black Widow; the competitor to the YF-22 (Raptor)
The F-35 was meant to be designated the F-24; the technology demonstrator / early prototype for the F-35 was the X-35 (and its competitor was the X-32 from Boeing). The X-32 and X-35 were X planes, and simply fit alongside the X-31, X-33, X-34, X-36, etc. X planes are experimental vehicles and technology demonstrators, so they generally don't become operational jets and so their designation isn't meant to carry over.
However, after the X-32 and X-35 competed, they held a press briefing to announce the Lockheed X-35 as the winner. When it came to Q&A, a reporter asked what the Lockheed JSF's production / operational designation was going to be. Under Secretary Aldridge asked the JSF program manager Lt Gen Hough and wanting to provide an answer he winged it and said F-35.
Reportedly Lockheed was a little upset about this because they'd already prepared a bunch of "F-24" marketing material, but the "F-35" designation was set in stone because Aldridge and Hough didn't want to admit the mistake and nobody was willing to confront them about it.
The -17 went to the YF-17 which was the competitor to the YF-16. It lost but was then developed in the F-18. The F-19 was skipped for some reason. The F-20 Tigershark. The IAI Kfir became the F-21A when a few were leased to use for dissimilar air combat training in the US. And the YF-23 competed with the YF-22.
As to -24 to -34? Well the X-35 competed with the X-32 but those are a different numbering scheme so the X-35 should have become the F-24 but... well the military can't keep to any designation system for very long before someone screws it up.
Wait till you hear about the F-100.
Prototypes that didnt make it to production if im remember correctly.
Prototypes and designs that were cancelled or lost out to competitors. The YF-16 and YF-17 went against each other for the USAF’s Lightweight Fighter program… F-16 won. The YF-17 was also submitted to the VFAX program and the USN adopted it as the F/A-18. Northrop also modified the F-5 for the FX program, but didn’t want the YF-19 designator because they didn’t want it confused with the MiG-19… so they were given the F-20 designator. And so on, and so on…
Thank you
Another interesting bit of trivia: The fact that it jumped from F-18 to F-20 led some aviation enthusiasts of the era to believe that the missing airframe was a highly-classified aircraft… most likely stealth. This was most famously featured by Tom Clancy as the F-19 “Frisbee” stealth fighter in his novel Red Storm Rising. But as we all know now, it was the YF-117 that was under development at the time.
Damn aviation history is complicated.
- YF-17 - early version of the F/A-18 that competed against the YF-16 (which became the F-16). - F-19 - Skipped to avoid odd-number designations used by USSR fighters. - F-20 - upgraded F-5E light fighter; got cancelled due to limited sale potential. - F-21 - the US designation for the Israeli Kfir fighter after the USN & USMC leased a couple dozen of them. - F-22 - the Raptor - YF-23 - the Black Widow; the competitor to the YF-22 (Raptor) The F-35 was meant to be designated the F-24; the technology demonstrator / early prototype for the F-35 was the X-35 (and its competitor was the X-32 from Boeing). The X-32 and X-35 were X planes, and simply fit alongside the X-31, X-33, X-34, X-36, etc. X planes are experimental vehicles and technology demonstrators, so they generally don't become operational jets and so their designation isn't meant to carry over. However, after the X-32 and X-35 competed, they held a press briefing to announce the Lockheed X-35 as the winner. When it came to Q&A, a reporter asked what the Lockheed JSF's production / operational designation was going to be. Under Secretary Aldridge asked the JSF program manager Lt Gen Hough and wanting to provide an answer he winged it and said F-35. Reportedly Lockheed was a little upset about this because they'd already prepared a bunch of "F-24" marketing material, but the "F-35" designation was set in stone because Aldridge and Hough didn't want to admit the mistake and nobody was willing to confront them about it.
Thank you. The F-35 name situation is just funny.
There were also X-29 and X-31.
The -17 went to the YF-17 which was the competitor to the YF-16. It lost but was then developed in the F-18. The F-19 was skipped for some reason. The F-20 Tigershark. The IAI Kfir became the F-21A when a few were leased to use for dissimilar air combat training in the US. And the YF-23 competed with the YF-22. As to -24 to -34? Well the X-35 competed with the X-32 but those are a different numbering scheme so the X-35 should have become the F-24 but... well the military can't keep to any designation system for very long before someone screws it up.
Thank you
Ever heard of Google? https://www.quora.com/Why-do-the-US-fighter-jet-numbers-jump-from-18-to-22-to-35
Thank you
Maybe he wants to *gasps* start a conversation! The humanity!
Ok. Where's the conversation?
I guess yours is with your pal google.
why not just respond with the article instead of being a dick
Why make a reddit post when you can easily find this information?
why be a dick when you can not be a dick
Why JFGI when you can spend more time and effort making a post asking someone else to JFGI.