Indeed, I always wondered, why the later serial version would have had a smaller number.
Anyway an impressive design … sad that it did not reach operational status.
Deino
It is sad that the 1.42 did not reach operational status as I would think that it would have been stealthier than the current Sukhoi PAK-FA looking at both designs.
I could have seen the F-117C replacing the Jaguar in the RAF conventional strike roll in the mid to late 1980’s but obviously the power’s that be at that time chose against it for some reason.
I have seen that F-117A design in Bill Sweetman’s book Lockheed Stealth, it also featured afterburning engines instead of non-afterburning engines, quite why puzzles me to this day.
Makes you wonder had the X/F-32 ever entered service would it have ever been capable of doing the Harriers party trick of VIFF (Vectoring In Forward Flight)?
I would think that the FC-31 would make an excellent fleet defense fighter for the PLAN aircraft carriers should they ever go down that route given that the FC-31 has stealth and long range, plus the fact that it can carry six missiles in it’s internal weapon bays.
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