FA-25

[sotoolslinger]

I have seen pics of a CH-47 carrying an F-15

[jsport]

The idea was to give more legs (range, mission endurance) to AV-8s in CAS missions by launching them (using their VTOL) as they were underslung from CH-53Es close to the beach. CH-53Es after delivering troops would accomplish this task in subsequent sorties. The AV-8s would recover on ships or at Forward Area Refuel Points on shore.

Another concept had Ch-53Es towing w/ a drag line M1 tanks suspended from large heluim balloons. The CH-53 would tow the ensemble to an LZ where the balloon would unload the M-1 and still be managed. ..That was never explained in what I read