Flying
Aircraft Carriers of the USAF: Project FICON Section 4: Systems &
Operations

 
    On August 1, 1950, the
Headquarters of the U. S. A. F. issued Development Directive A-6-1
authorizing the Air Materiel Command to initiate project MX-1602. The
project was dubbed Fighter Conveyor, which was contracted as FICON.
     The
ultimate goal of Project MX-1602 was to combine the high speed and
maneuverability of the Republic RF-84F Thundeflash
with the long-range capability of the Convair RB-36. The mission profile
of the composite aircraft would consist of long-range, high-altitude
flight to the target area and high-speed reconnaissance over the
objective. The parasite aircraft system provided three basic advantages,
long-range in the logistics zone, high performance in the defended zone,
and an aerial base for launching and retrieving the parasite. Convair
designed a hydraulically operated trapeze mechanism to fit inside the bomb
bay of the RB-36 carrier airplane. The trapeze mechanism could carry,
release, and retrieve a parasite airplane. The carrier could take off with
the parasite stowed in the bomb bay, launch and retrieve the parasite
in-flight, and land with the parasite aboard.
     Convair designed a hydraulically operated trapeze
mechanism to fit . . . . .