https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/64e0aafe-43ed-475d-afd3-343c70d67307 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Help us preserve, scan and post more rare and endangered films! Join us on Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com McDonnell Aircraft Corporation presents a post-WWII promotional film for the XF-85 Goblin parasite fighter. The XF-85 was a prototype fighter aircraft conceived during World War II that was intended to deploy from the bomb bay of the B-36 or XB-35 bomber. It's role was to defend bombers from hostile interceptor aircraft. McDonnell built two prototypes before the USAF terminated the program in 1949. Flight tests showed promise in the design, but the aircraft's performance was inferior to the jet fighters it would have faced in combat, and there were difficulties in docking. McDonnell test pilot Edwin Foresman Schoch discovered the aircraft was extremely sensitive to the bomber's turbulence, as well as being affected by the air cushion created by the two aircraft operating in close proximity. At the start of the test program, Schoch miscalculated his approach and struck the bomber's trapeze so violently that the canopy was smashed and ripped free and his helmet and mask were torn off. He saved the prototype by making a belly landing on the reinforced skid at the dry lake bed at Muroc. Although the Goblin program was terminated, the concept of parasite aircraft continued under three related projects following the cancellation: MX-106 "Tip Tow", FICON, and "Tom-Tom." This feature was created in collaboration with the Air Material Command for the USAF (:25). The craft was powered with a single Westinghouse J-34 turbojet engine (:33). In WWII, B-17s fly through the air in formation (:37). Bombs drop (:51); the payload explodes (:53). WWII presented new technical problems for the USAAF, forcing rapid growth (:43). Advanced enemy fighter aircraft were a serious threat, requiring bombers to have heavier and heavier levels of protection for survival (:54). The headquarters of McDonnell Douglas headquarters (1:10). Architects and designers mingle on the factory floor (1:16). The XF-85 buzzes (1:21); a squat fat Tom Thumb jet fighter. It gets scooped up and fully enclosed into a EB-29 bomber (1:31). The parasite falls (1:48). Features and properties of the fighter parasite begin with the engine; a J-34 jet engine (1:55). The tail was manufactured in an unconventional X configuration (2:22). Pressurizing was intended for extreme altitude operations (2:39). Separate pneumatic actuation is provided in addition to the normal actuator (2:58) for emergency use. Wings unfurl (3:25). Cockpit equipment (3:32) includes ample oxygen supply (3:34), a built in ejector (3:43). McDonnell employees are shown refueling the Goblin using the automatic fuel system (3:49). Preparations are made for a trial run; the XF-85 was to be launched and retrieved by a modified EB-29 (4:12). Tests run at Muroc AFB in California; later renamed to Edwards AFB (4:26). Modifications are looked to; the fuselage (4:31) of the parent plane required a specially built pit (4:33) in order to enable loading. The skyhook is engaged (4:40). The XF-85 is retracted into position beneath the bomber (4:47). The bomber runs down the runway (5:12). The Goblin sits stuck below the fuselage (5:21). The EB-29 cruising at altitude (5:32); the pilot stabilizes and final preparations are conducted for launching. Pilots retain contact throughout. The trapeze is extended (5:53) and nose stabilizing structure is raised (6:09). The pilot releases the sky hook (6:25) and the XF-85 drops (6:29). Special electronic equipment maintains contact between aircraft (6:41). The retrieval operation is a reversal of the launching procedure (7:15). The pilot of the mother ship drags up the XF parasite (7:20). The nose stabilizing structure is lowered (7:33), the engine is shut off and the plane retracts (7:38). The B-29; pregnant with the parasite, safely touches back down on the runway (8:07). The film was produced by the Princeton Film Center (8:25).  Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO6x_EYctI8 Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Thu, 11 Jun 2026 06:47:12 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/64e0aafe-43ed-475d-afd3-343c70d67307 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.