The MiG 1.44 finally made its maiden flight in February 2000, just nine years behind schedule, with test pilot Vladimir Gorboonov in the cockpit. During the 18-minute flight, the 1.44 reached a maximum height of 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and reached speeds of 600 km/h (370 mph).
Yet despite the YF-23’s performance bona fides, the jet was passed over – in large part, not because of the jet’s performance, but because of how the performance was marketed.
Developed as an air superiority fighter in the late 1980s as part of the United States Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the F-22 won out over a competing design from Northrop and McDonnell Douglas – the YF-23.
On paper, the J-20 has some advantages while the F-22 boasts others. Practically, however, as General Kenneth Wilsbach, head of U.S. Air Forces Pacific said “I don’t think that [the J-20] is a dominating aircraft at this point, compared to what we have.” While the Chinese aerospace industry is undoubtedly making great strides in producing advanced aircraft, the U.S. still has