FICON project
The
FICON (
Fighter
Conveyor) program was conducted by the
United States Air Force in the 1950s to test the feasibility of an
B-36 Peacemaker bomber carrying an
F-84 parasite fighter in its bomb bay. This article also covers a similar parasite fighter experiment called
Project Tom-Tom. |
GRB-36 carrying YRF-84F. USAF Museum Photo Archives |
Although the experimental
XF-85 Goblin escort fighter proved to be a failure, USAF believed that bomber-borne fighter was still viable. Instead of escort, the focus had shifted to a strike role with a Convair
B-36 Peacemaker carrying a Republic
F-84 Thunderjet fighter. The plan was for the
heavy bomber with superior range to arrive in the vicinity of the target and deploy a faster, more maneuverable F-84 to deliver the tactical
nuclear bomb. The F-84 would then return to the ‘mothership' and be carried home.
A production
RB-36F-1 Peacemaker (serial number 49-2707) was modified with a special
trapeze mechanism in its bomb bay and designated
GRB-36F, and a production
F-84E Thunderjet (serial number 49-2115) was fitted with a retractable hook in the nose in front of the cockpit. The hook would link the fighter to the trapeze which would hold the aircraft in the bomb bay during flight, lower it for deployment, and raise it back in after the mission. Due to the size of the fighter, only the cockpit, the fuselage spine, and the tailfin actually fit inside the GRB-36, which considerably increased the drag and reduced the big bomber's range by 5-10%. On a positive note, the fighter pilot was able to leave his airplane while attached to the carrier, making the 10-hour flights to and from the target much more bearable.
The initial FICON trials were performed in
1952. First hookup took place on January 9, with first retrieval into the bomb bay on April 23, and first flight of the complete system from takeoff to landing on May 14. In 1953, the GRB-36/F-84E was sent to
Eglin Air Force Base where 170 airborne launches and retrievals were subsequently performed. In May 1953, the F-84E was replaced by the faster
F-84F Thunderstreak, with the original
YRF-84F (briefly called
YF-96A) prototype (serial number 49-2430) modified for the role and briefly designated
GRF-84F. When
RF-84F Thunderflash tactical reconnaissance fighter began entering service, the FICON role was changed from attack to reconnaissance. As with the F-84, the RF-84 was supposed to utilize its smaller size and superior agility to overfly heavily defended targets and gather intelligence while the bomber loitered outside the range of enemy defences. The scheme was found to be "tactically sound" and USAF ordered 10 production RB-36D to be converted to
GRB-36D carriers with a complement of 25
RF-84K tactical reconnaissance fighters. The
RF-84K differed from RF-84F in having retractable hookup equipment and
anhedral tailplanes to better fit inside the GRB-36. Since it retained an armament of 4x 0.50 in. machine guns, it could also act as an escort fighter. The RF-84K could be deployed at altitudes of up to 25,000 ft (7,550 m) and added 1,180 mi (1,900 km) to GRB-36D's already impressive 2,800 mi (4,500 km) combat range.
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GRB-36 launching YRF-84F from the trapeze. USAF Museum Photo Archives |
The FICON system saw limited service with
Strategic Air Command in 1955-1956. The GRB-36D carriers from 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (
Fairchild AFB) operated in conjunction with RF-84K from 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (
Larson AFB).
Subsequent test flights demonstrated that while the FICON concept was indeed "tactically sound," its operational implementation was difficult. Hookups with the carrier aircraft were challenging for the experienced test pilots under ideal conditions. In combat or in adverse weather and in the hands of less experienced pilots such maneuvers proved difficult with several RF-84K damaged while attempting to dock. In addition, the RF-84 had dramatically reduced the bomber's ground clearance. With the 450 gallon external tanks on the fighter, the FICON assembly sat a mere 6 inches (15 cm) off the ground! These adversities, combined with the advent of
Lockheed U-2 and passing of the B-36 into obsolescence, resulted in cancellation of the project in
1956, with the last FICON flight taking place on April 27 of that year.
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EB-29A docked wingtip-to-wingtip with two EF-84Bs in Project Tom-Tom. USAF Museum Photo Archives |
An even more bizarre development related to the FICON system was
Project Tom-Tom. The first Tom-Tom consisted of a specially modified
EB-29A (serial number 44-62093) and two
EF-84B (serial numbers 46-0641 and 46-0661). The fighters would attach to the bomber using flexible mounts between the wingtips of the aircraft and would be towed by the mothership to extend their range. Not surprisingly the system proved dangerous because the powerful vortices coming off the EB-29's wingtips caused the fighters to violently roll. Tragically, on April 24,
1953, the B-29 and one of the F-84s aircraft crashed with no survivors. In parallel, a similar arrangement was being developed using an RB-36F previously used in the early FICON trials and two RF-84F (serial numbers 51-1848 and 51-1849). The aircraft were attached wingtip-to-wingtip using articulated arms and clamps. Although several successful hookups were performed in 1953, turbulence and vortices continued to present a major problem. In late 1953, an RF-84F was actually torn away from the RB-36. All aircraft landed safely but the idea was deemed too dangerous. Developments in the area of
mid-air refueling at the time promised a much safer way of extending the range of the fighters and Project Tom-Tom was cancelled.
* Joe Baugher.
B-36 Peacemaker. http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b36.html
* Air Force Flight Test Center.
Two warfighters in one package. http://www.edwards.af.mil/moments/docs_html/56-04-27.html
* US Air Force Museum.
Convair GRB-36F. http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b3-80.htm
