"Mothership" for flying boat land take-off.

[carmelo]

In a Italian magazine of 1939,"Panorama",i have read an article about Americans flying boats.
Was said that a method at the study for land takeoff of flying boats ( in runways near sea aerodromes) was put the flying boat piggy-back on a sort of not flying launch vehicle for reach speed for takeoff.
This method was alternative to catapult,and a variant of "majo composte idea,as the mothership not fly (i have understand that was on rails)
Any information or pictures of this?

 

[JimK]

From Robert E. Bradley's "Convair Advanced Designs, Secret Projects from San Diego 1923-1962". The caption says about all there is known about it.

 

[carmelo]

Fantastic!!
But could work?

 

[Jemiba]

.... But could work?

At least for smaller types it was considered by other manufacturers, too :

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3013.msg24161.html#msg24161

 

[steelpillow]

But could work?

Barnes Wallis used one to launch his Wild Goose research model: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1904.msg16235.html#msg16235

 

[Schneiderman]

See patent GB490408

 

[publiusr]

We tried more things then it seems

 

[Nik]

Given big dock-yard cranes often ran on two parallel 'standard' tracks, not so far-fetched. IIRC, some harbours and break-waters had 7ft gauge utility lines. Also, didn't the Germans plan a 3-metre mega-gauge ?? That would have suited launching a jumbo flying boat....

 

[kocovgoce]

similar to Nazi projects orbital bomber from 1940 s. it may still be feasible if magnetic stripes are used

​

 

[klem]

Or the Fairchild M-128.

 

[dan_inbox]

Or the Fairchild M-128.

I believe this is the M-121. See https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/goto/post?id=216639