McDonnell XF-85 Goblin

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1948 · fighter

The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was an experimental parasite fighter designed to be stored in the bomb bay of a Convair B-36 and deployed in flight to defend the bomber against interceptors. At just 4.52 m long it remains one of the smallest jet-powered fighters ever built.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Egg-shaped fuselage only 4.5 m long
T — Tail	Cruciform

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Spot it by:

Tiny parasite fighter designed to be carried inside a B-36 bomber
Egg-shaped fuselage only 4.5 m long
Multiple folding fins replacing a conventional tail

Unmistakable due to its tiny egg-shaped fuselage, multiple butterfly/cruciform folding fins at the tail, and a retractable skid rather than conventional undercarriage.

Specifications

The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin has a length of 4.52 m (15 ft).
It has a wingspan of 6.43 m (21 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1046 km/h (650 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Conceived in 1944 and first flown in August 1948, the Goblin was tested by hooking it to a specially modified EB-29B mothership. Test pilots found it extremely difficult to rehook the aircraft in flight, and the programme was cancelled in 1949 after several failed hook-up attempts. The advent of aerial refuelling made escort fighters more practical.

Variants

Two XF-85 prototypes were built; no production variants followed.

Where you'll see it

The XF-85 never entered operational service; both prototypes are preserved in US aviation museums.

Related aircraft

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