The Rockair was first suggested by Hermann Oberth in his 1929 book Wege zur Raumschiffahrt. Rockair concepts were developed by both the United States Air Force and Navy, both generally finding marginal use in the concept. The Air Force began studying the concept of an air-launched sounding rocket in 1947, while the Navy managed to get the first launch on August 16, 1955, using an F2H2 off of Wallops Island. The folded-fin aerial rocket(FFAR) reached an altitude of 54,864 m (180,000 ft). The Air Force followed up with their first air-launched sounding rocket concept on December 13, 1956, under the name "Rockaire". A Deacon rocket was used, launched from a F-86 fighter aircraft.
The Navy Rockair had a total of 5 launches, while the Air Force Rockaire had a total of 4 for a combined 9 launches.
According to a NASA historical summary, no important scientific research was every carried out with the Rockair concept. It had very little popularity, in contrast to the "Rockoon" which was launched in the hundreds during the 1950s.
Launch History of the Rockair +DateLaunch siteRocketLaunch PlatformApogeeAugust 16, 1955NAOTSFFARF2H250 km(31 mi)August 16, 1955NAOTSFFARF2H255 km(34 mi)August 16, 1955NAOTSFFARF2H29 km(5.5 mi)November 1, 1955NAOTSFFARF2H250 km(31 mi)November 1, 1955NAOTSFFARF2H250 km(31 mi)
Launch History of the Rockaire DateLaunch siteRocketLaunch PlatformApogeeDecember 13, 1956HollomanDeaconF-86D44 km(27 mi)December 14, 1956HollomanDeaconF-86D42 km(26 mi)December 17, 1956HollomanDeaconF-86D43 km(26 mi)December 19, 1956HollomanDeaconF-86D45 km(27 mi)
References