McDonnell XF-85 Goblin

McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
Land	Usa
Rolle	Prototype af interceptorfly
Første flyvning	9. maj 1949
Bygget	2

Den McDonnell XF-85 Nisse er en amerikansk prototype jagerfly udtænkt under Anden Verdenskrig af McDonnell Aircraft. Det var meningen, at det skulle indsættes fra bomberummet på det gigantiske Convair B-36 bombefly som et parasitjagerfly. XF-85's tilsigtede rolle var at forsvare bombefly mod fjendtlige interceptorfly, et behov, der blev demonstreret under 2. verdenskrig. McDonnell byggede to prototyper, før luftvåbnet (USAAF) afsluttede programmet.

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McDonnell XF-85 Goblin går rundt
Fotografer	John Heck, Vladimir Yakubov
Lokalisering	Strategisk luft- og rummuseum, Ashland
Billeder	76

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McDonnell XF-85 Goblin går rundt
Fotografer	John Heck, Vladimir Yakubov
Lokalisering	USAF's Nationalmuseum, Dayton
Billeder	96

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General Characteristics and Role

The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was an experimental jet fighter developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) in the late 1940s. Its highly unusual role was to serve as a “parasite fighter”—a defensive fighter that would be carried and launched from a bomber, specifically the massive Convair B-36 Peacemaker, and recovered mid-air. This concept arose because early jet fighters lacked the range to escort strategic bombers on long-distance missions, leaving them vulnerable to enemy interceptors deep inside hostile territory. The XF-85 was designed to be small enough to fit within the B-36’s bomb bay and featured a unique hinged nose assembly for hooking up to a trapeze system.

Property	Typical Value (XF-85)
Rolle	Experimental Parasite Fighter
National Origin	USA
Producent	McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
First Flight (unattached)	23 August 1948
Besætning	1 (Pilot)
Længde	4.93 m (16 ft 2 in)
Vingefang	6.44 m (21 ft 1 in)
Gross Weight	2,540 kg (5,600 lb)

Powerplant and Unique Features

Engine: 1 x Westinghouse J34-WE-22 turbojet engine.
Thrust: 3,000 lbf (13 kN).
Armament: Proposed four .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (never installed on the prototypes).
Unique Tail: It featured a distinctive cruciform tail and swept wings that folded upwards for stowage inside the bomber.
Recovery System: The plane used a retractable hook in its nose to latch onto a specialized trapeze lowered from the carrier aircraft (initially a modified B-29 Superfortress, later planned for the B-36).
Performance: The intended speed was over 1,000 km/h (620 mph), designed to intercept potential enemy fighters like the MiG-15.

Program Outcome and Legacy

Testing: The recovery phase of the test flights proved extremely difficult, due to the intense turbulence and buffeting behind the carrier aircraft. Pilots reported high difficulty in successfully mating the hook with the trapeze.
Cancellation: The program was cancelled in 1949 after only a few test flights. The mid-air docking procedure was deemed too risky for operational use. Furthermore, the rapid development of aerial refueling technology provided a more practical solution to the bomber escort problem.
Legacy: While unsuccessful, the XF-85 stands as one of the most unique and ambitious attempts in aviation history to solve the strategic bomber escort challenge. It remains a prime example of Cold War experimental aircraft design.
Preservation: Both prototypes built (AF Ser. No. 46-523 and 46-524) survive. One is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, and the other at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.