I lost my job the other day so I've been directing my creativity back into SimplePlanes and I'm finally ready to share this. A lot has changed in the nearly 4 years since the original Mid-Air Docking Challenge but I can finally say that it is complete.

The first of its class, this massive mothership bomber has its own fighter-interceptor escort which can be launched and recovered via the internal runway and cradle. I've tried to make the process as simple as possible, but this is a very complex operation and requires a high level of piloting skill.

CONTROLS:

• AG1 initializes main engines.

• VTOL slider is the Throttle for the mothership, regular Throttle input controls the fighter.

• AG2 closes the claw and secures the fighter into the cradle.

• AG3 raises the cradle to the stowed position.

• AG4 lowers the blast plate.

• AG5 is an emergency parachute on the fighter, can be used if you get stuck in the tube.

• AG6 opens bomb bay doors.

• AG7 is currently unbound.

• AG8 locks the mothership's pitch, roll, and yaw inputs.

• Trim slider is for mothership pitch control while flying the fighter, and to compensate for the shifting weight and aerodynamics of this build.

All AG controls are toggles

For takeoff:
Essentially, your launch sequence is 1-2-3-4. This turns on the engines, closes the claw, raises the cradle to the stowed position and lowers the blast plate.

To launch the fighter:
Once you have reached cruising speed, lock the inputs (8), raise the blast plate (4), lower the cradle (3), open the claw (2), raise the empty cradle (3), and throttle up.

To land the fighter:
Make sure your blast plate (4) is down, your cradle (3) is down, and the claw (2) is open. Approach the rear of the mothership from above at around 25% Throttle. Carefully bring the fighter down onto the runway and into the cradle before closing the claw (2) and reducing throttle.

With this system, it's possible to launch and recover the fighter multiple times. For non-combat takeoffs (or easier landing practice) the fighter can also be launched backwards by lowering the blast plate before opening the claw.

Notes:
- The mothership can be prone to stalling. Pay attention to your instruments while flying the fighter and use the Trim slider to stay level.

• Avoid drastic inputs before launching the fighter. The fighter is held delicately on the blast plate and may come unstuck violently.

• This is one of my most detailed builds ever and definitely the most mechanically complex.

• I've noticed that I forgot to rebind some lights and turnable wheels. Oops.

• Has not been tested on mobile or in multiplayer, but the parts count is fairly low.

• If there's demand for it, I may release the two aircraft separately for multiplayer shenanigans.

• The name comes from the USS Macon, an airship from the interwar period that carried its own escort fighters.

• The fighter design comes from Boeing's cancelled plans to turn a 747 into a flying carrier

• This is largely un-modded aside from slightly buffing the engines and adjusting inputs.

• I would put missiles or rockets or something on the parasite fighter for better air defenses but unfortunately those all become nonfunctional when disconnected from the main body of the aircraft. For now, you've just got a gun.

• It's pretty fun to shoot down your own mothership though.

• Fits on all standard runways in the game.