XF-85 Goblin

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McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
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
Power	3,000 lb force	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.

1. Docking with the bomber 'host' proved much more difficult than thought; even experienced test pilots had trouble.
2. 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.
3. The range of jet escort fighters improved so that they could accompany the bombers further.
4. 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.

Related content
Related Development
Similar Aircraft
Designation Series	F-82 - XP-83 - F-84 - XF-85 - F-86 - XF-87 - XF-88
Related Lists	List of military aircraft of the United States - List of fighter aircraft

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