| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 46-523 |
| Alternate Serial: | 6523 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | McDonnell F-85 Goblin |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | McDonnell F-85 Goblin |
| Aircraft Version: | McDonnell XF-85 Goblin |
| C/n (msn): | 1 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Wright AFBMap |
| Region / Country: | Ohio, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KDWF IATA: - Local: DWF Other: - |
| Collection: | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Photo Date: | 16 December 2024 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 829668 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
Conceived as the solution to provide fighter escort protection for heavy bombers, the XF-85 was the first and only aircraft designed as a parasite fighter to be launched by a trapeze mechanism from the bomb bay of the Convair B-36 and Northrop's planned B-35 flying wing. McDonnell built two prototypes in 1947 which were tested under a B-29, but great difficulties were encountered in attempting to dock the Goblin back to the mothership, requiring a very skilled pilot. With improvements to air-to-air refuelling, docking problems and superior Soviet opposition, the program was abandoned in 1949 This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 28 July 2025, and has since been viewed 17 times. |