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JATO Takeoff from Ice Cap |
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Photo by Jack Cayton, Firebird Pilot |
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Ski Takeoff from DYE Site. Often JATO was required to take off at a DYE site. Due to the extensive use of JATO on re-supply missions to the Distant Early Warning radar stations on the Ice Cap, the 17th earned the name “Firebirds” as a result of using spectacular fiery jet assisted takeoffs from remote arctic sites. In the top photograph the snow conditions have caused the aircraft to take off beyond the end of the ski way…designated by black flags. With smooth snow conditions the useful runway length was, in actuality, plus or minus 300-400 miles. Eight JATO bottles generated approximately 8,000 pounds of additional thrust. |
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