Two YF-23 prototype aircraft were stored at NASA's Dryden Flight Center, Edwards California, between 1993 and 1996. Both YF-23 prototypes were designed and built by the contractor team of Northrop and McDonnell Douglas as part of the demonstration and evaluation phase of the U.S. Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) selection program, which concluded in 1990.

Both YF-23 prototypes were transferred from Norththrop to Dryden. There were no engines in the two aircraft, and NASA had no plans to fly the YF-23s in any research program.

NASA had planned to use one of the two aircraft to extensively study strain gage loads calibration techniques, while the other would remain in storage at Dryden. However, both aircraft remained in storage until the summer of 1996 when the aircraft
were transferred to museums. The YF-23A "Black Widow II" PAV-2 (S/N 87-801) is on display at the Western Museum of Flight
in Hawthorne, California, on long term loan from NASA. YF-23A "Black Widow II" PAV-1 (S/N 87-800) is currently at the USAF Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

The YF-23 prototypes are 67.4 feet in length and have wingspans of 43.6 ft. During the ATF program, one YF-23 was powered
by twin Pratt and Whitney YF119 turbofan engines, while two General Electric YF120 turbofan engines were installed in the other prototype. The aircraft achieved a speed of Mach 1.8 during the program.

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