<article><hdr>Ground shot of an RF-84K</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>A novel idea emerged in 1953 to enable tactical reconnaissance aircraft to be transported abroad a mothership to be released close to its area of interest and thereby obtain data with a minimum of risk. The idea was to transport a modified RF-84 aboard a B-36 in a project known as FICON (Fighter Conveyor) . The RF-84 was modified with a retractable hook mounted on the nose and a revised anhedral on the tailplane to clear the bomb bay of the B-36. The first aircraft modified was a YF-84F, and was followed by 25 GRF-84Fs which changed designation to RF-84K. The project was part of Strategic Air Command , with the aircraft assigned to the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio. The idea does not appear to have been too successful as it was only in being during 1955.</hi>
