Northrop's YF-17: The Cobra That Became a Hornet In the famous Lightweight Fighter competition, two planes fought for the future of American air power. This is the story of the "loser": the Northrop YF-17 Cobra. Explore the radical aerodynamics and twin-engine design that gave this prototype its incredible agility. See how, despite losing the Air Force contract to the YF-16, the U.S. Navy saw the YF-17's immense potential, adopting it to create one of the most iconic and successful naval fighter