Unique Flying Machines: McDonnell XF-85 Goblin

Unique Flying Machines: This May, we’re celebrating the XF-85 Goblin was a prototype aircraft from World War II.

In theory, the craft was designed to drop from a Convair B-36 bomb bay in mid-flight and
conduct bomber defense missions.

The concept was dubbed a “parasite aircraft,” which was required due to the differences between bombers ranges and those of the interceptor jet fighters.

Two prototypes were built and tested in 1948, but the program was canceled due to performance issues and other challenges.