I was at an air show the other day, when I hear a C-130 taking off, I figure, "Wow, big deal... *yawn*"

A few seconds later I get an earload of rocket engines... ROCKETS... not jets...

I turn around just in time to see this:




So loud, I almost fell flat on my ass, but BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RATO (Rocket assisted Take-off), Nice!!

I was literally like


MEIN EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

awsome piece of machinery

imagine a bit of infantry delivery with that baby

Correct term is "JATO" (Jet-Assisted TakeOff)...don't know why.
But it IS a fantastic sight when a Herc lights those off.

OOH beautiful for gracious plane for red rocket flames.... Blues Angles Blue Angles... (didn't feel like typing the whole thing out yet(also didn't remember how most of it went ))

heres some more

OOH beautiful for gracious plane
For red rocket flames
For blue and yellow coloring
Above the fruited plain!
Blue Angles Blue Angles
They jump towards us
And crown thy good with jump wings
From plane to shining ground!
( the rest would of been to hard)

actually, I was told at the show that the BA C-130 has RATO, not JATO

That would be Fat Albert, a friend of mine works on them..... DON'T LET THEM TALK YOU INTO RIDING ON THAT THING. . . nearly shat myself.

Originally Posted by Damien

actually, I was told at the show that the BA C-130 has RATO, not JATO

RATO is the correct term..
R=Rocket, J=Jet...