747-AAC CONCEPT "Airborne Aircraft Carrier"

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

This gem of a video popped up on my YouTube suggested for viewing list.....

So, I watched it.

Pretty interesting bit of USAF/DOD history that I'm sure Boeing received a juicy contract to research and propose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drnxZlS9gyw&feature=youtu.be

Check it out!

 

[dmetalmiki]

"In the (Good Old) days when aeroplanes did (exactly!) What pilots 'told' them to do.

 

[Guyfang]

This is not new. In the pre WW2 days, large blimps were able to do this.


https://youtu.be/DTGBFY82Gik

 

[marchplumber]

Wasn't the "goblin" supposed to be possibly recovered in flight? (ugly bird!) THANKS CHAPPY!


OBVIOUSLY!!, I should have watched the video BEFORE commenting!! UGH!!


LOL

 

[Wolfen]

Interesting idea, not sure how practical it would be.

 

[Guyfang]

It worked. But wasn't real easy. By the time the Navy started to get interested, the blimps were on the way out anyway.

 

[Wolfen]

With mid air refueling well established, I don't think this would be very practical.

 

[marchplumber]

One aircraft? Seems like a VERY tempting target for SAM or Air to Air missiles! Terrible loss of life and material!! Hard to protect that asset. Great for speed, but would have to stay out of "harms way"....................my two cents

 

[dxhend2]

Here's the declassified DoD report from 1973 - interesting read.
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/529372.pdf

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Here's the declassified DoD report from 1973 - interesting read.
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/529372.pdf

Indeed, that's a technical report worthy of reading if one desires that much information.

I enjoyed reading it.

 

[cucvmule]

Very interesting indeed. It would seem that the tech involved was developed in one form or another on several aircraft over the next 35 years, perhaps longer.

To me the concept that a crew of Airmen could recover, rearm, fuel, and Launch an aircraft at 30,000 feet in an at best pressurized condition seems, plausible but unlikely.

A Very Good concept study that no doubt has roots into some of the best Fighters produced to date and beyond. But to have a Micro Fighter or Parasite aircraft that has all the capability and versatility, in one airframe to be reused, redeployed, in a short span of time would be a short duration aircraft, with the crew expendable. Maybe in a third world war but not in a theatre conflict.

What is amazing is the 747's capability even by todays standards.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Pondering this concept and a "What If" scenario....

What if your second parasite fighter "in the rack" gets RED TAGGED ???
Do you just jettison the crippled craft that's blocking the queue?

AND...

As with naval aircraft carriers, operationally, how many of your parasites will be required just to escort the carrier aircraft to protect it from being targeted????
Then, how many parasites with be left to fulfill the primary mission? With the loss of the carrier the whole squadron might be left in hostile territory.


SEEMS there is much more to this concept than the report addressed.

 

[cucvmule]

I believe that I read two of the micro fighters would be on CAP at all times. And you can bet that any aircraft recovered that is not at ready condition would be jettisoned.

The Mothership would require a maintenance schedule also but is never discussed other than refuel. The day of stealth, and long range weapons are here. To hide a large aircraft even with defensive measures, chaff, would still give an approximate location. So much to overcome in todays world, 30 years ago was possible.