A parasite aircraft is a component of a composite aircraft which is carried aloft and air launched by a carrier aircraft or mother ship to help or protect the carrier. The carrier craft may or may not be able to later recover the parasite during flight.
The first parasite aircraft flew in 1916, when the British launched a Bristol Scout from a Felixstowe Porte Baby flying boat. The idea eventually developed into jet bombers carrying fully capable parasite fighters. With the advent of long-range fighters equipped with air-to-air missiles, this role was seen as less and less necessary.
Read more about Parasite Aircraft: Parasite Fighters, Examples of Parasite Aircraft, Gallery
Famous quotes containing the word parasite:
“Creation destroys as it goes, throws down one tree for the rise of another. But ideal mankind would abolish death, multiply itself million upon million, rear up city upon city, save every parasite alive, until the accumulation of mere existence is swollen to a horror.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)