[Alvin]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

Wow, I've never seen that drawing before! That's supposed to be the XF-85 Goblin being dropped out of a B-36, but the artist is a little off on the dimensions.

This was the early post-WWII era when the USAF believed parasite fighters were the answer to providing a fighter escort on long range bombing missions. Bombers could fly thousands of miles, hit a target, and return, but fighters didn't have the range, so the idea was hatched that one or more of the bombers in the formation could carry parasite fighters. When the bombers were attacked, they would unleash their XF-85 Goblins to drive away the MiG's, then the little fighters would return to the mothership. The same concept was used way back before WWII when it was thought airships would rule the skies. But unlike the early days when biplanes could attach and detach from a slow moving airship, performing the same maneuvers with a jet powered parasite fighter and a massive bomber never worked.

The giant B-36 bomber had a huge bomb bay, but it wasn't yet available for testing the XF-85 Goblin concept, so a modified B-29 Superfortress was used. In flight, the little XF-85 was lowered on a trapeze, would detach, fly around, then reattach and be pulled back into the bomber. While detaching was no problem, they quickly discovered that that reconnecting to the bomber was a nightmare. It worked off the hook and trapeze system, but trying to reattach the tiny little fighter underneath a buffeting 4-engined bomber at high altitude was nearly impossible. Throughout all the testing, a skilled test pilot was only able to hookup to the trapeze once, and other attempts ended in accidents and/or forced landings.

After spending millions of dollars, it was determined that even if they could overcome the docking problems, the little XF-85 would be no match for a MiG-15 anyway. Only two XF-85 Goblins were ever built, and they survive today. One has been at the USAF Museum in Dayton since 1950.

Yes and reminds me of the WWII Submarines w hidden on-board aircraft