EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif -- The F-117 Combined Task Force completed the flight test evaluation of the GBU-27A/B enhanced guided bomb unit, just two months after its first captive-carry flight.
Captive carry is typically used to conduct initial testing on a new airframe or system, before it is ready for free flight. Captive carry is sometimes also used to transport an aircraft or spacecraft on a ferry flight.
A mother ship, mothership or mother-ship is a large vehicle that leads, serves, or carries other smaller vehicles. A mother ship may be a maritime ship, aircraft, or spacecraft. Examples include bombers converted to carry experimental aircraft to altitudes where they can conduct their research. A mother ship may also be used to recover smaller craft, or go its own way after releasing them. A smaller vessel serving or caring for larger craft is usually called a tender.