As a kid in the 1960's I read every copy of my dad's Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine as soon as it arrived. I never heard mention of this beast. As a military and airline pilot, I understand clearly why this thing never got off the drawing board.
Totally impractical, too big a target for SAM`s + enemy interceptors, i don`t accept that those F4`s could go 30 days without SOME major external maintenance, plus, as mentioned already, having the crews sat in the cockpits for unknown durations on standby would never work.......looks nice tho 😁
As a former air force ground crewman in the 1970s and worked with F-4s. Right off the bat the F-4s would have to be totally reworked. First off the planes refueled from under the wings, so did re-arming and external power hookups were on the lower fuselage. Also I don't think the pilots and REOs would be comfortable sitting for great lengths of time without food and toileting ability.
I also commented about the Pilot and REO. Food, bathroom, sleep, basic comfort?!?! They are going to just hangout?!?!?! NOT! At almost 1/4 quarter mile wingspan, what airport could accommodate this size of plane? This whole thing is just a super dumb idea.
F4s are awfully heavy for the mission parameters. Boings aircraft carrier was working with a purpose built small lightweight aircraft without landing gear. Also how do you reload?
Physically could not, There were many attempts thru the 1950 to carry parasite fighters like the Goblin and some small regular fighters. They rigged a B-29 with a trapeze system in the bomb bay to for the Goblin to hook back up to but turbulence under the B-29 inflight made it impossible to hook back up after being released from the bomber. The only successful system that worked was during the 1930s was the U.S. Navy's Dirigibles Akron and Macon aerial aircraft carriers, each carried three modified Biplane fighters.
That almost a 1/4 quarter mile wing span. What airport could accommodate a plane like that?!?!? Oh, I know, fantasyland 😅 Also.....so the Pilot and REO just hang out in their own plane while the mothership takes them to wherever they are going or is there a way to get them in and out of their F-4s?
A concept that was never built...some engineers wet dream.
As a kid in the 1960's I read every copy of my dad's Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine as soon as it arrived. I never heard mention of this beast. As a military and airline pilot, I understand clearly why this thing never got off the drawing board.
silly idea
Sounds great on paper kinda sounds like it'd be a billion dollar bullseye
I know aircraft mechanics looked at this and shit their pants😭😭
I doubt the design developed much beyond a set of requirements.
Totally impractical, too big a target for SAM`s + enemy interceptors, i don`t accept that those F4`s could go 30 days without SOME major external maintenance, plus, as mentioned already, having the crews sat in the cockpits for unknown durations on standby would never work.......looks nice tho 😁
How would you refit the external hard points on the fighters?
You could not........
Please made a most powerful engine jets please sir please
As a former air force ground crewman in the 1970s and worked with F-4s. Right off the bat the F-4s would have to be totally reworked. First off the planes refueled from under the wings, so did re-arming and external power hookups were on the lower fuselage. Also I don't think the pilots and REOs would be comfortable sitting for great lengths of time without food and toileting ability.
I also commented about the Pilot and REO. Food, bathroom, sleep, basic comfort?!?! They are going to just hangout?!?!?! NOT!
At almost 1/4 quarter mile wingspan, what airport could accommodate this size of plane? This whole thing is just a super dumb idea.
F4s are awfully heavy for the mission parameters. Boings aircraft carrier was working with a purpose built small lightweight aircraft without landing gear. Also how do you reload?
How do you recover the jets post op ?
Physically could not, There were many attempts thru the 1950 to carry parasite fighters like the Goblin and some small regular fighters. They rigged a B-29 with a trapeze system in the bomb bay to for the Goblin to hook back up to but turbulence under the B-29 inflight made it impossible to hook back up after being released from the bomber. The only successful system that worked was during the 1930s was the U.S. Navy's Dirigibles Akron and Macon aerial aircraft carriers, each carried three modified Biplane fighters.
That almost a 1/4 quarter mile wing span. What airport could accommodate a plane like that?!?!? Oh, I know, fantasyland 😅 Also.....so the Pilot and REO just hang out in their own plane while the mothership takes them to wherever they are going or is there a way to get them in and out of their F-4s?
OK…So after the jets launch and then get low on fuel…what then?
Hook back up to the carrier, easier said than done.