XF-85 Goblin

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McDonnell XF-85 Goblin

XF-85 Goblin
Type	Parasite Fighter
Manufacturer	McDonnell
Maiden flight	23rd August 1948
Status	Cancelled 1949
Number built	2
Unit cost	US$3.1 million for the program^[1]

The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was a fighter aircraft, conceived during World War II and intended to be carried in the bomb bay of the giant Convair B-36 bomber as a defensive parasite fighter. Its first flight was on the 23rd August 1948. Because of its rounded and small appearance it was nicknamed "The Flying Egg".

Two prototypes were built, and both still survive; one in the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio and the other at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.

Termination of the XF-85 program mid-1949 was the result of several factors:

Docking with the bomber 'host' proved much more difficult than thought; even experienced test pilots had trouble (though Chuck Yeager stated that the XF-85 test pilot was particularly incapable of formation flying.^[2])
The XF-85 was no match for the conventional enemy fighters it would have to engage to defend the bombers - it was slower and much more lightly armed.
The increasing range of jet escort fighters allowed them to accompany bombers farther.
Tight budgets meant that less important programs such as the XF-85 were canceled.

As a prototype B-36 was unavailable all tests undertaken on the XF-85 were carried out using a converted Boeing EB-29 Superfortress bomber. Later, a B-36 was used as a mother ship for similar tests, carrying a conventional Republic F-84 Thunderstreak fighter. These tests, known as FICON (Fighter Conveyor) experiments, were also found to be of little long term practical use and the whole concept was dropped.

[edit] Specifications (XF-85)

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 14 ft 10 in (4.5 m)
Wingspan: 21 ft 1 in (6.4 m)
Height: 8 ft 3 in (2.5 m)
Wing area: 90 ft² (8.3 m²)
Empty weight: 3,740 lb (1,696 kg)
Loaded weight: 4,550 lb (2,063 kg)
Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
Powerplant: 1× Westinghouse XJ34-WE-22 turbojet, 3,000 lb_f (1,361 kg)

Performance

Maximum speed: 664 mph (1,069 km/h)
Range: mi (km)
Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (14,630 m)
Rate of climb: 12,500 ft/min (3,810 m/min)
Wing loading: 51 lb/ft² (247 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.66

Armament

4x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Colt Browning Machine Guns

[edit] References

^ Knaack MS (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force aircraft and missile systems. Office of Air Force History.
^ Yeager, Chuck and Janos, Leo. Yeager: An Autobiography. Page 226 (paperback). New York: Bantam Books, 1986. ISBN 0-553-25674-2.