Parasite Warbird?

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:02 pm

Has there ever been a successful Parasite Warbird made?
One that not only can detach...fight... but also re-attach?

I know about the U.S.S. Arkon and its Sparrowhawks. But what about a bomber (non - airship) as the mothership?
I saw some info on this site: Junkers Ju EF101 http://www.luft46.com/junkers/juef101.html

Quote:

Not many details remain of the lower component, which consisted of a single engined, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. It had a wing span of 15 meters (49' 3"). A two man crew was planned for its fully pressurized cockpit. Some sources state that this was a Messerschmitt Bf 109H, but this aircraft could only hold a single pilot. The lower component aircraft fit flush against the carrier aircraft's lower fuselage, with a recess for the smaller aircraft being provided in the upper component aircraft's bottom.
The flight plan was to have the combination aircraft near the target area, and then the lower component would disengage form the carrier aircraft. After climbing and completing its mission, it would then be recovered to the carrier aircraft using an arresting gear beneath the upper component.

Has this ever been done? Anything got beyond the prototype? (Like XF-85 Goblin)
Bluedharma

old iron · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:06 pm

The Russians used parasite fighters to defend bombers on combat missions during WWII. My understanding is that they were only used on one or very few missions, based I think on the Tupolev TB-3 bomber. Nevertheless, it does count.

Kevin

Kyleb · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:39 pm

Don't forget the RB-36/RF-84 combination which was in active service for a couple of years.

Cvairwerks · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:56 am

The B-36 did it with three different series aircraft. First was with the Goblin parasite fighter. The program didn't go into production due to a multiple of reasons.

Second configuration was with the RF-84 repalacing the Goblin. This was done as the FICON program. By the time most of the problems that were encountered had been solved, the desire for carrying parasitic fighters had substantially subsided.

Third was the implementation of of Operation TIP TOW that was originally tested using a modified B-29 and two EF-84's After the loss of the B-29 and at least one of the EF's, the program was transfered to the B-36 and continued for a short time. TIP TOW was eventually cancelled due to the inability to reduce the wing tip vortex problems that caused the loss of the B-29 configuration earlier in the project. There were also some lingering questions about having a pilot aboard the -84's for the duration of the missions, which could last up to 50 hours in flight.

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