The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was a postwar attempt at a parasite escort fighter for the B-36. It basically was a midget at 21' long with 21' wingspan and height of 11'. It weighed about 5600 lbs and was powered by a 2995 lb st Westinghouse J34 engine. For stability, it needed 6 tails in X-configuration (3 up top, 3 below). It needed no wheels as it was to be recovered in- flight with a nose hook that was retractable; but in case that failed, production machines would have fitted a ski/skid underneath as with the Me-163 of WW2. Fuel was low at 200 gals for 30 mins operating time including the recovery! Combat aircraft would have had 4x .50 cal MGs with a couple hundred rounds each. Pilot had to be 5' 8" and under 200 lbs to fit into the stubby aircraft. The loading required a pit that the bomber rolled over and then the XF-85 was loaded which was the first inconvenience. The second was that the recovery effort interfered with the bomber's duties. The third was that the problem of stability for the 2 craft and severe buffeting were never going to be solved. And fourth, the tiny jet needed as much work as regular jet fighters! The single XF-85 flew 12 times and crashed 4 times! Another was completed, but never flew. Eventually the USAF gave up on parasites, the only real working one being the RF-84K Thunderflash for extended recon carried by the B-36. Prior to these the British, Russians, and Germans all tried parasites (the Japanese Ohka being a suicide machine/manned bomb)...