The U.S.S. Akron and U.S.S. Macon, America's “flying aircraft carriers”
Those are making a comeback.<p>In January, DARPA successfully launched a Dynetics’ X-61A Gremlin UAV from the bay of a Lockheed Martin C-130A cargo aircraft. The program is aiming to demonstrate the efficacy of low-cost combat-capable drones that can be both deployed and recovered from cargo planes. DARPA envisions using cargo planes like the C-130 to deploy these drones while still outside of enemy air defenses; allowing the drones to go on and engage targets before returning to the airspace around the “mother ship” to be recaptured and carried home for service or repairs.<p><a href="https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/flying-aircraft-carriers-are-totally-possible-and-sort-of-crazy/" rel="nofollow">https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/flying-aircraft-carriers-are-to...</a>