April 26, 2001 at 3:33 pm
I’ve read a study about the USAF in 2025 (one of many). They proposed to build UAV motherships, that can loiter for long periods. Small recce UAVs and /or UCAVs would dock with this mothership in mid-air for refueling and/or re-arming. Sounds very futuristic.
I immediately remembered a similar project, namely the FICON project to allow B-36 bombers to carry fighters under their belly. First they tried to carry XP-85 Goblin fighters (designed especially for the project). Later they tried to carry RF-84 and F-84 fighters on B-36s. Using trapezes to launch and recover the smaller a/c.
More info can be found at:
http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/baugher_us/b036-15.html
http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/baugher_us/b036-16.html
Both projects weren’t considered as very succesful. I wonder if a future UAV mothership will be succesful. Any thoughts??
Best regards,
Ference.
P.S. Does anybody have any pics of those FICON B-36s?