Its mission is to develop professional United States and allied nation pilots who are combat ready.

FICON involved using an RF-84K, a version of the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash with a retractable "duck-bill" to enable it to be carried by a modified Convair B-36 Peacemaker to increase its range.

The RF-84K was equipped with anhedral (downward-pointing) horizontal stabilizers to clear the bomb bay when in the stowed position.

In addition, ground clearance with the fighter mounted was around 6 inches when the RF-84K was equipped with external fuel tanks.

It operated and maintained the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, including sites in Alaska, Greenland, and England.

In addition, it supported the Accelerated Co-Pilot Enrichment (ACE) program at numerous operating locations between 1978 and 1991.

[2] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency