1955–56. Hookups with the carrier aircraft were challenging for the experienced test pilots under ideal conditions. In combat or in adverse weather, and by less-experienced pilots, they proved difficult, and several RF-84Ks were damaged attempting it. In addition, the RF-84 dramatically reduced the bomber's ground clearance: with 450 gallon (1,700 liter) external tanks on the fighter, the FICON combination cleared by a mere six inches (15 cm). These adversities, combined with the advent of the Lockheed U-2 and the passing of the B-36 into obsolescence, resulted in cancellation of the project in 1956, with the last FICON flight taking place on 27 April. Upon cancellation, some RF-84Ks were scrapped, but others operated as reconnaissance aircraft with retractable hook apparatus still in place. Only three survive; one at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, one at Planes of Fame "static lot" in Chino, California, and one at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado. References Notes Bibliography Anderson, Major Clarence E. "Bud". "Aircraft Wingtip Coupling Experiments." Society of Experimental Test Pilots via web.archive.org. Retrieved: 6 October 2010. Anderson, Colonel Clarence "Bud" with Joseph P. Hamelin. To Fly and Fight: Memoirs of a Triple Ace. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History, 1999. . Baugher, Joe. "GRB-36 FICON." American Military Aircraft, 16 August 2001. Davis, Larry and David Menard. F-84 Thunderjet in Action (Aircraft No. 61). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1983. . Ford, Daniel. "B-36: Bomber at the Crossroads". Air and Space/Smithsonian, April 1996. Retrieved: 3 February 2007. Keaveney, K. Republic F-84/Swept-Wing Variants (Aerofax Minigraph, No 15). London: Aerofax. 1987. . Lockett, Brian. Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF: Project Ficon. Scottsdale, Arizona: LockettBooks, 2008. . Lockett, Brian. Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF: Wing Tip Coupling. Scottsdale, Arizona: LockettBooks, 2009. . McLaren, David. Republic F-84 Thunderjet, Thunderstreak & Thunderflash: A Photo Chronicle. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military/Aviation History, 1998. . Miller, Jay. "Project Tom-Tom." Aerophile, Volume 1, Number 3, December 1977. Miller, Jay. "Talkback". Air Enthusiast. No. 13, August–November 1980. pp. 79–80. Miller, Jay. "Tip Tow & Tom-Tom". Air Enthusiast, No. 9, February–May 1979, pp. 40–42. . United States Air Force Museum Guidebook. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, 1975. Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition. New York: Doubleday, 1982. . Winchester, Jim. "Convair B-36". Military Aircraft of the Cold War (The Aviation Factfile). Rochester, Kent, UK: The Grange plc., Yenne, Bill. "Convair