Project Ficon Pictures

[Kira]

(That's Project "FICON", all caps. Silly auto word thing!)

Just ran across these, thought it might interest some. The tests displayed are one of two parasite programs that I know of that were tested. The other entails attachment of the fighters to the bomber's wingtips.

The basic idea was that the intercontinental bomber could bring its fighter escort with it, as it would, of course, long outstrip them in range. I'm led to believe that the perfection of the air refueling concept resulted in the shelving of this project.

Quote:

"A dozen Air Force and Convair photographs of Project FICON Convair GRB-36 carrier aircraft and Republic F-84 parasites from 1952 to 1956:

Convair GRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic F-84E Thunderjet 49-2115 at Forth Worth, Texas and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida

Convair GRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic YRF-84F Thunderstreak 49-2430 at Fort Worth, Texas and Dayton, Ohio

Convair GRB-36D 49-2962 and Republic RBF-84F Thunderflash 52-7266 over Washington State

Convair GRB-36D 49-2694 and Republic RF-84K Thunderflash 52-7258 at Edwards Air Force Base, California

These Air Force and Convair photographs were acquired from the National Museum of the USAF, National Archive, Major Clarence "Bud" Anderson (ret), and Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems."

From: http://www.air-and-s...iation_2012.htm

[Jediteo]

Now ,I think Fenrir would prefer the P38 calendar on that website to the Pirelli one.

[DD_Arthur]

So what happens to the pilot of the fighter after he's released and does his thing? Logically the fighters will need to be released after the B36 enters Soviet airspace, hopefully shoot down a few Migs, allowing the bomber a run on target? When the F84 runs outta gas it's going to be a long walk home.

My last Maths teacher (1978) was an ex-RAF V-bomber navigator. After they'd delivered "Blue Danube" they knew they didn't have enough juice to get back to the UK. He'd calculated they would have to bail over western Ukraine. Remember, if it all went to plan they would have just nuked Moscow so their reception from the locals might have been a er, warm one! To this end they really were equiped with a combined Bible and Russian phrase book and a few gold sovereigns in their survival kit. They were'nt issued with firearms though. Oh yeah, he was a shit maths teacher too.

[FoolTrottel]

(...)

My last Maths teacher (1978) was an ex-RAF V-bomber navigator. (...) Oh yeah, he was a shit maths teacher too.

If the shitty part was in his maths, he probably would've ended up nukin' Kiev, and bailin' out over Moscow?

[DD_Arthur]

(...)

My last Maths teacher (1978) was an ex-RAF V-bomber navigator. (...) Oh yeah, he was a shit maths teacher too.

If the shitty part was in his maths, he probably would've ended up nukin' Kiev, and bailin' out over Moscow?

No doubt he was very good at big sums but as a teacher he was a couple of kilos short of a megaton.

[SkyPup]

Found this on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FICON_project

[Friar]

Did'nt the Russians already have that sort of thing, a certain Dangerdogz favourite mission springs to mind............

[[rgmw]largie]

<SNIP>

My last Maths teacher (1978) was an ex-RAF V-bomber navigator. After they'd delivered "Blue Danube" they knew they didn't have enough juice to get back to the UK. He'd calculated they would have to bail over western Ukraine. Remember, if it all went to plan they would have just nuked Moscow so their reception from the locals might have been a er, warm one! To this end they really were equiped with a combined Bible and Russian phrase book and a few gold sovereigns in their survival kit. They were'nt issued with firearms though. Oh yeah, he was a shit maths teacher too.

I recall a documentary a few years ago where the pilots admitted that if they had to drop the bomb they knew full well that there would be nothing for them to come back to in the UK, so the plan was to push on to Siberia (

He also said that thye were trained to fly with an eyepatch on one of their eyes so that if a nuclear flash went off and blinded them they could move the patch and fly using the other eye ! With a co-pilot as well they should have 4 chances to get to the target !

Dave