|
|
|
|
|
Xf-85 Goblin | McDonnell XF-85 Goblin |
|---|
260px
XF-85 Goblin | | Description |
|---|
| Role | Parasite fighter | | Crew | 1 | | Dimensions |
|---|
| 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 | | Weights |
|---|
| Empty | 3,740 lb | 1,696 kg | | Loaded | 4,550 lb | 2,063 kg | | Powerplant |
|---|
| Engines | Westinghouse XJ-34 | | Thrust | 3,000 lbf | 13 kN | | Performance |
|---|
| Maximum speed | 664 mph | 1,069 km/h | | Combat range | | | | Ferry range | | | | Service ceiling | 48,000 ft | 15,000 m | | Rate of climb | 12,500 ft/min | 3,800 m/min | | Armament |
|---|
| Guns | 4 times 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns | 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 23 August, 1948. Two prototypes were built, and both still survive; one in the USAF Air Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ashland, Ohio and the other at the Strategic Air Command Museum outside Omaha, Nebraska. Four factors combined to kill the XF-85 program. - Docking with the bomber 'host' proved much more difficult than thought; even experienced test pilots had trouble.
- 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 range of jet escort fighters improved so that they could accompany the bombers further.
- Tight budgets meant that less important programs were canned.
All tests undertaken on the XF-85 were carried out using a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber because a prototype B-36 was unavailable. 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-in-Convair) experiments, were also found to be of little long term practical use and the whole concept was dropped. External links F-85
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|