mrmorv :
A guy in aviation here. I could create an essay on why this would never work and is a sci fi concept, which I will do now! Buckle in for a lesson 😁
1. The flight formation complexity; when you have two large aircraft; maintaining a tight formation is incredibly challenging. We aren't talking thunderbirds skill, but something much scarier. Keep in mind the landing plane is having a malfunction, or possible engine failure. Trying to land a possibly damaged aircraft which is also unstable in air, and could have unpredictable yaw and roll movements, make it impossible to simultaneously conduct a formation flight in this manner.
2. The bottom aircraft that catches the failing aircraft is going to experience IMMENSE turbulence like never before from the downwash and vortices of the plane above. No current pilot in our world has the training for that. This entire aircraft essentially has a roller ramp for a top fuselage, which will affect both aircrafts stability through rapid changes in airflow.
3. The instantaneous moment any aircraft touches that ramp, it would act like one COLOSSUS airbrake, which can be devastating. Thats because the increased aerodynamic drag and flow separation from having a second aircraft on the back would dramatically reduce lift and could potentially stall the rescue aircrafts engines.
4. Mechanically, we have no materials that could survive this. Let me explain. The technology required to make this bottom aircraft would probably weigh something similar to a C-17/C-5, i would guesstimate 300,000 lbs. The interworking mechanisms of the bottom aircraft need to be incredibly robust, and be able to withstand sudden load transfer without sheering mid transfer. With everything I have already explained, majority of all modern materials in aviation would sheer right away. There is a reason KC 135's have so many crew chiefs. They are always getting repaired.
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2025-09-13 14:56:16