|
|
Home > Fact Sheets > General Electric YF120
GENERAL ELECTRIC YF120
Posted 4/29/2013
Printable Fact Sheet
Note: This engine is located in the Research & Development Gallery on a controlled-access portion of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The gallery will close until further notice beginning May 1, 2013, as part of budget reduction requirements due to sequestration.
General Electric developed the prototype YF120 engine under a demonstration contract for the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF). The engine on display was one of two YF120 engines installed on the YF-23.
In 1986 the U.S. Air Force awarded demonstration contracts for an ATF to two competing industry teams. The Lockheed-led team produced two YF-22 prototype aircraft: one powered by two prototype Pratt & Whitney YF119 engines and one powered by two prototype General Electric YF120 engines. The Northrop-led team produced two YF-23 prototype aircraft, also powered by the two different engines. Following extensive flight testing, the USAF announced in 1991 that the Lockheed YF-22 had won the airframe competition and that the Pratt & Whitney YF119 had won the engine competition.
To reduce weight and to improve the YF-23's stealth characteristics, Northrop decided against using full thrust-vectoring for aerodynamic control that Lockheed used on the YF-22. Instead, the YF120 used a two-dimensional vectoring exhaust nozzle that could open or close to regulate the thrust exiting the engine.
Besides using advanced materials to reduce weight, the YF120 featured a variable-cycle, counter-rotating turbine. This technology allowed it to operate as a conventional turbojet at supersonic speeds, while keeping the fuel-efficient characteristics of a turbofan at subsonic speeds. It produced thrust in the 35,000-pound range.
Click here to return to the Research & Development Gallery.
| |
|
|
|
|
