Skyborne: 5 Mysterious Flying Aircraft Carriers

The Cold War era, marked by intense military rivalry, spurred numerous innovations, including the groundbreaking concept of flying aircraft carriers, epitomized by the US Air Force's FICON project. FICON, a portmanteau of 'Fighter' and 'Conveyor,' was a 1950s program exploring the deployment of smaller fighter aircraft carried by larger bombers.

The core idea of FICON was to pair a large bomber, capable of long-range flight, with a small, agile 'parasite' fighter. This fighter could deploy a nuclear bomb with precision before rejoining its 'mothership' bomber. This strategy offered a solution to the limitations of bombers in carrying out tactical reconnaissance missions, as they could now transport a more stealthy aircraft to needed locations.

For this ambitious project, the Convair B-36 Peacemaker was chosen. With a wingspan of 230 feet, it was the largest aircraft of its time and remains the largest mass-produced piston-engine aircraft. The Peacemaker's selection hinged on its impressive range of 10,000 miles and a maximum payload of 39,600kg, despite its original design for nuclear bomb delivery...

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