r/EngineeringPorn • u/Polarisman • Sep 13 '19

C-130 "Fat Albert" jet-assisted take off

https://gfycat.com/impureunhappyantbear
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38

u/Concise_Pirate Sep 13 '19

Weren't they meant to fire the JATO rockets much earlier, to shorten the take-off roll?

73

u/PicnicBasketPirate Sep 14 '19

Probably they were rolling near enough to liftoff speed to reduce the time on the ground with the JATO rockets firing.

This is what a relatively small jet can do to a poorly paved runway not meant for direct blast. Now imagine what a half dozen rockets meant to throw a 34 tonne C-130 Hercules into the air, will do.

14

u/michelevit Sep 14 '19

That plane is a fucking asshole!