McDonnell XF-85

McDonnell XF-85

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Remarks by Jack McKillop: "The first of two XF-85s, these parasite fighters were intended to be carried in the bomb bay of a Consolidated Vultee B-36 Peacemaker offering the bomber fighter protection. The aircraft were to be launched and recovered by a retractable trapeze beneath the B-36 and accordingly, the XF-85s had a retractable hook in the fuselage forward of the cockpit. The aircraft also had a retractable steel skid under the fuselage and the wingtips were protected by steel runners; this permitted emergency landings on the ground. The two aircraft flew a total of 2 hours and 19 minutes testing the concept with a specially equipped Boeing EB-29B Superfortress but the test indicated that hooking on to the trapeze was difficult and the USAF cancelled the project on October 17, 1949."


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Remarks by Jack McKillop: "The first of two XF-85s, these parasite fighters were intended to be carried in the bomb bay of a Consolidated Vultee B-36 Peacemaker offering the bomber fighter protection. The aircraft were to be launched and recovered by a retractable trapeze beneath the B-36 and accordingly, the XF-85s had a retractable hook in the fuselage forward of the cockpit. The aircraft also had a retractable steel skid under the fuselage and the wingtips were protected by steel runners; this permitted emergency landings on the ground. The two aircraft flew a total of 2 hours and 19 minutes testing the concept with a specially equipped Boeing EB-29B Superfortress but the test indicated that hooking on to the trapeze was difficult and the USAF cancelled the project on October 17, 1949."