The puzzle begins with the introduction of the Tri-Service aircraft designation system in 1962. This system was a Cold War innovation by the U.S. Department of Defense, aimed at unifying the varied naming conventions across the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Coast Guard. “The Tri-Service system included designations like A for attack, B for bombers, and F for fighters,” was how the system was codified, hoping to bring clarity to the classification of military aircraft.
Amidst this catalog, the Teen Series emerged, representing a class of fighters including the renowned F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F/A-18 Hornet, which were developed during the Cold War for the USAF and USN. However, two numbers in the sequence were conspicuously absent: F-13 and F-17. The F-13 designation was likely avoided due to “Triskaidekaphobia,” a fear deeply ingrained in many cultures that eschews the number 13.
The case of the missing F-17 is more a story of transformation than avoidance. The YF-17 Cobra, a prototype lightweight fighter designed by Northrop for the USAF’s Lightweight Fighter Program, did not vanish into obscurity after losing out to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Instead, it evolved into the F/A-18 Hornet following a collaboration between Northrop and McDonnell Douglas. “Though there wasn’t ever an F-17, there was the YF-17 Cobra… the enlarged aircraft became the F/A-18 Hornet, which was adopted by the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.”
Two YF-17 prototypes are now museum pieces, serving as reminders of their part in the evolutionary timeline of fighter jets. One is preserved at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, California, and the other at the Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.
It’s important to note that while these designations were skipped or transformed, the Teen Series fighters left an indelible mark on military aviation. The F-14 through F-16, and the resultant F/A-18, are among the most iconic and capable aircraft in the world, a testament to the innovation and strategic thinking of the period.
The void left by the F-13 and the YF-17’s metamorphosis into the F/A-18 is filled with stories of cultural considerations, strategic redirections, and developmental milestones.
Relevant articles:
– Why Was There No F-13 or F-17 Fighter Jets?, The National Interest, Nov 27, 2023
– 17 US Military Fighter Jets? – News & Perspectives On Global Defense Industry, dgimagazine.com, Mar 31, 2023
– Deciphering the Missing Numbers: The Tale of the Phantom Fighters, ts2.com.pl, Nov 27, 2023