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Thanks for the info guys. I kind of wondered if the 3rd was a Northrop design, because it reminds me of the Northrop VSTOL single engine (JAST?) design that had a similar canard layout.


I forgot the YF-23 was a Northrop-McDD design. Considering McDD made the X-36, I should have guessed the advanced controls were from them. The PDF files I have show that layout, but instead of "dynamic (moveable) flight controls, it has the edges made of a material that I guess was similar to the YF-23's boundary layer control "material" in front of the inlets. There is some sort of mechanical system(valves?) that allow the flight control material to act solid or porous, so the airflow either thinks they're there or they aren't and by turning them "on" and "off" it allows differential lift, etc. This would allow the aircraft to fly without "moveable" control surfaces, which would enahnce it's stealthiness. I wonder if such technology would have been part of the X-44's wing?


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