The FICON project was completed after seven flights of an RF‑84K from a modified B-36. Although the flights were successful, the project was terminated due to difficulties in recovering the parasite fighter under all but optimum conditions, and by range degradation of the combined aircraft.
The FICON (Fighter Conveyor) program was conducted by the United States Air Force in the 1950s to test the feasibility of a Convair B-36 Peacemaker bomber carrying a Republic RF-84K Thunderflash parasite fighter in its bomb bay. Earlier wingtip coupling experiments included Tip Tow, which were attempts at carrying fighters connected to the wingtips of bombers. Tom-Tom followed the FICON project afterwards. (USAF/NMUSAF Image)