Subscribe RSS FeedA JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) is a rocket system that helps airplanes take off and land on shorter runways. It’s pretty AWESOME.
Here is a cool video (with background music) Of a few different ways to use the rockets. One of which is a takeoff in under 300 ft.
And… The Blue Angels “Fat Albert” jet. The impresive thing here isn’t the short take off, it’s the insane climb angle…
A C-130 with Ski’s performs a JATO on snow.
And, while we are at it. Here are some funny C-130 Air Drop Mishaps…
And… The most awesome amusement ride EVER! The fulton sky hook recovery system…
Fantastic clips. I think the first one with the JATO mishap is the best. I can’t tell if the pilots are trying to shut everything down, or if they’ve abandoned the cockpit and are trying to find a way out.
Last summer I talked to a guy who flew B-47 bombers (an earlier cousin to the B-52) during the 1950s. He said he experienced a couple of JATO takeoffs, and said it’s about what you’d expect–you’d start moving down the runway, hit the switch, then hang onto the steering column for dear life and hope to goodness that none of the rocket tubes blew up…
The C-130 is the oldest cargo plane in the fleet. Several are real pieces of junk. I’ve never flown in one, but I hear that they are even more uncomfortable than the KC-135R, which I have flown in (The worst flights of my life). You should also post a few videos of the AC-130 with it’s monstrous cannon on the side. Pretty cool. I have a friend who is a special forces electronics officer for one. He can never tell you where he goes on assignment because it’s top secret.
@ Josh’s last comment: or that the steering column would break.
I did not know that JATO was used in wing removal.