Boeing's $67 Million Stealth Experiment

Boeing's YF-118G 'Bird of Prey' stealth aircraft was an experimental project that spent $67 million of its own money on development. The aircraft, which flew just 38 times between 1996 and 1999, had a unique design with tiny wings and an unusual beak-like nose.

The Bird of Prey was developed as a technology demonstrator to explore stealth capabilities. Its fuselage blended into its small wings, while prominent chines along the body helped generate lift and reduced radar signature. The engine intake was positioned on top of the fuselage rather than in a conventional location, shielding it from detection.

Boeing used existing technology to keep costs down, adapting parts from other aircraft such as the Beech King Air and Queen Air for the landing gear and Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5C turbofan engine. The ejection seat was reportedly taken from a Harrier. This approach allowed engineers to focus on stealth shaping, composite construction, computerized design, and rapid manufacturing.