X-Nico

Air launch

Building on its success, Orbital Sciences is developing the Pegasus II launcher that will drop from a purpose-built launch aircraft called the Roc.

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The Convair B-36 was used to air launch several prototype fighters for defense, but none offered performance that could match ground-launched fighters — even the largest bomber ever mass-produced was too small a mothership for the jet age — and docking presented its own problems.

see also