Replies

Neat little film, though it does highlight the strengths of the design and not its flaws. "Docking" that little guy must have involved serious pucker factor.

Here's a related link of unedited camera footage of the tests. At around 2:45 you see a docking that goes very wrong. (The pilot survives, but yikes, what a scary moment!)

1 posted on 09/13/2014 8:32:18 PM PDT by DemforBush

The guy who tested this prototype ought to have received a Medal of Honor. Three belly landings that he walked away from. He used up so many of his lives testing this unworkable design, he died at age 35 in a flying accident.

http://thetartanterror.blogspot.com/2007/08/edwin-fschoch.html

2 posted on 09/13/2014 8:41:13 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)

The Air Force's desire for an airborn "parasite" system cost us an SR-71 - and the life of one crew member - back in July, 1966.

Here's a short video of the incident.

3 posted on 09/13/2014 8:47:29 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Thank you for self-censoring.)

4 posted on 09/13/2014 8:56:56 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (The IRS: either criminally irresponsible in backup procedures or criminally responsible of coverup.)

To: DemforBush; blueyon; KitJ; T Minus Four; xzins; CMS; The Sailor; ab01; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; ...

Active Duty/Retiree ping.

7 posted on 09/13/2014 9:22:35 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (Resist in place.)

8 posted on 09/13/2014 9:27:36 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (Resist in place.)

McDonnell test pilot Edwin Schoch was the only pilot to fly both XF-85 Goblins.

The XF-85 Goblin was designed to fit in the bomb bay of the B-36 bomber and was supposed to be launched and recovered in the air from a retracting trapeze mechanism. Proof of concept was tested using a modified B-29. Launching was accomplished without much trouble. The trouble came when the Goblin tried to hook onto the trapeze for recovery.

Turbulence behind and below the B-29 was fierce when the trapeze was lowered into position. The little jet was bounced all about and collided with the trapeze. The canopy was heavily damaged and the jet forced to land at Rogers Dry Lake, Edwards AFB. Further testing led to additional forced landings in the desert. Modifications were made, but all attempts were unsuccessful in solving the docking problem.

The two Goblins built made a total of 7 flights. All landings were made on Rogers Dry Lake. In the end, the USAF canceled the program on 24 October 1949. Both XF-85 Goblin prototypes survived and are on display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH and the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, NE.

11 posted on 09/13/2014 9:38:48 PM PDT by MasterGunner01

Here’s a related link of unedited camera footage of the tests. At around 2:45 you see a docking that goes very wrong.

...

It looks like he collided with the docking rig, and then pitched up too high, causing a stall.

14 posted on 09/13/2014 9:57:09 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)

I recall from my youth seeing the Flap Jack Monogram model and it always made me think of the Goblin.

16 posted on 09/13/2014 10:36:32 PM PDT by Rodamala

America used to have fun growing into and being THE super power.

And we were wealthy, too.

Didja' see the 8000 drafting tables at Mcdonnell ?

OK, a little exagerated .. but ...

19 posted on 09/14/2014 3:13:12 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)

Aviation History Bump.

20 posted on 09/14/2014 4:18:36 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)

Goblin escort fighter

21 posted on 09/14/2014 5:51:32 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)

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