The Mysterious World of Airborne Aviation: Hiding Planes Within Planes and Flying Carriers

Introduction:

The world of aviation has always been full of innovation and fascinating concepts that have often been relegated to the realm of science fiction. One such idea that has captured the imagination is the concept of hiding an entire airplane inside another airplane by folding up its wings, just like a double-decker bus. This article delves into the real-life example of the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin and the history of flying aircraft carriers, exploring the challenges and limitations of these innovative aircraft designs.

McDonnell XF-85 Goblin: A Groundbreaking Concept

In the post-World War II era, the United States faced significant losses among its heavy bombers at the hands of the Luftwaffe, Regia Aeronautica, and Japanese forces. To counter these threats, a bold new idea was proposed: equipping bombers with their own aerial defense. Building upon earlier experiences with parasite fighters aboard dirigibles like the Akron and Macon, the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was born.

The Goblin's design was based on fitting it into the rear bomb bay of the B-36 Peacemaker, a massive bomber known for its remarkable length and payload capacity. The trials conducted with the Goblin were impressively successful. However, a critical issue arose that ultimately led to the scrapping of the project: how could the plane be retrieved safely if the mother bomber was shot down?

The challenge of recovering the Goblin without risking loss of both aircraft was too daunting to overcome. Nonetheless, the prototype Goblin survived and remains an interesting historical artifact to this day. This rare survival from the era of airborne innovation serves as a testament to the ingenuity of the early aeronautical engineers.

From Concept to Obsolescence: The Tin Can’s Journey

During the final years of World War II, the Japanese developed a revolutionary submarine design that carried two dive bombers intended to target Allied cities on the west coast of America. This marked a significant departure from conventional submarine operations and demonstrated the potential of integrating aerial combat with naval vessels.

Following the war, the United States experimented with using blimps as flying aircraft carriers. The concept seemed promising, but the practical challenges of launching and recovering biplane fighters proved too complex. Once jet aircraft became the norm, the idea of blimps serving as mobile airfields became nearly impossible due to the lack of folding wing designs required for efficient transport.

Despite these limitations, the idea of flying aircraft carriers remained a whimsical and intriguing proposal. Today, discussions around this concept often revolve around whether modern cargo aircraft such as the C-5 Galaxy could serve as a means of transporting fully functional fighter jets with folded wings. However, the challenges such as wing retraction, aerodynamics, and the sheer size of modern jets make this concept highly improbable, if not outright impossible, in current aviation technology.

Conclusion: Navigating the Boundaries of Aviation Innovation

The stories of the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin and the experimental flying aircraft carriers remind us of the incredible creativity and ambition that characterized early aviation. While not all of these ideas were successful, they highlight the never-ending quest to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of aviation. As technology continues to evolve, so too will our aspirations and the limits of what we can achieve in the sky.

Keywords: McDonnell XF-85 Goblin, Fitted Planes, Flying Aircraft Carriers