XF-85 Goblin - Mini US Fighter AirCraft at World War II

The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was a fighter aircraft, conceived during World War II and intended to be carried in the bomb bay of the giant Convair B-36 bomber as a defensive "parasite fighter". Because of its small and rotund appearance, it was nicknamed "The Flying Egg".

The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was designed to meet a USAAF requirement for a single-seat "parasite" escort fighter that could be carried by a large bomber. Development of two prototypes was ordered in March 1947. The resulting design was entirely the product of design constraints, which required it to fit into the bomb bay of a B-36 (although it was first tested under a B-29). The B-36 was the intended mother ship that would carry as many as three Goblins.























General characteristics

* Crew: 1
* Length: 14 ft 10 in (4.5 m)
* Wingspan: 21 ft 1 in (6.4 m)
* Height: 8 ft 3 in (2.5 m)
* Wing area: 90 ft² (8.3 m²)
* Empty weight: 3,740 lb (1,700 kg)
* Loaded weight: 4,550 lb (2,050 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Westinghouse XJ34-WE-22 turbojet, 3,000 lbf (13.3 kN)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 664 mph (1,069 km/h)
* Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (14,600 m)
* Rate of climb: 12,500 ft/min (3,800 m/min)
* Wing loading: 51 lb/ft² (247 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.66

Armament

* 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns