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From the time the bomber was used in warfare, there was a need to protect the aircraft from enemy fighters. Fighters generally lack the long range of a strategic bomber which meant bombers had no fighter protection when their escorts had to turn back. After WWII, one idea was for the bombers to carry their own escorts. From this concept the XF-85 Goblin was born.

The XF-85 Goblin was a prototype jet fighter designed to be carried within the bomb bay of a B-36 Peacemaker bomber. In operation, the diminutive fighter would be released when enemy fighters were encountered. After protecting the formation, the Goblin would rendezvous with the bomber for retrieval.

In testing the XF-85 flew quite well. It had an estimated top speed of 648 MPH, it was maneuverable, stable, easy to fly and recoverable from spins. problems arose when trying to retrieve the fighter. It was meant to hook up to a trapeze extended beneath the bomber. Turbulence beneath the bomber created difficul...

Prints of all artworks are available at www.markkarvon.com. All artworks are copyright Mark Karvon. As a kid in the suburbs of Chicago, I always was interested in the mechanical creations of man. There is something about a purpose of design and the engineering solution to achieve that purpose that always created a spark in my mind. The forms those machines took were captivating to me - the pointed nose of a fighter jet; the exposed driving wheels of a mighty steam engine, the streamlined shape of a submarine. And the stories of the incredible experiences of the men who operated those machines are the stuff of legends and sometimes nightmares. From an early age I tried to express my fascination through drawing. I suppose my first...