Anyone have any info/sites about a plan to make a C-130 Hercules into a V/STOL aircraft, for some kind of special forces mission. (Prisoner rescue, from a prison near a small park or stadium that was the only place to land for miles. Or something.)
From what I remember of the story, the put rockets on the front, to slow the thing down immediately after landing, and put rockets pointing down, to lift it back up again. Rockets on the wings were to boost it forwards enough for normal flight.
Landing worked well, as did lifting the aircraft into the air with the down-jets. Problems occurred when the forward-thrust rockets fired. The wings achieved a suitable forward velocity, but unfortunately left the fuselage behind....
The talk of JATO bottles reminded me of the story, but I couldn't find anything with a quick google... Anyone else head the tale? |
