I don’t want this thread to become a flame war but I was just curious after watching a small documentary on the YF-23, why did it lose? I remember I read that the YF-22 was chosen due it its conventional shape? But didn’t the YF-23 perform better? Any info that would enlighten me would be appreciated.
And also, one small question, there was a red hour glass symbol at the belly of the YF-23 when it first flew, upon seeing that, orders came from top officials to have it immediately removed, why was that? Was something offensive about the red hour glass symbol?