The US Navy Blue Angels C-130 naked

The US Navy Blue Angels C-130, nicknamed ‘Fat Albert’ performing a Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO)

This unconventional method of taking off help aircraft get airborne more quickly and with shorter takeoff runs by significantly increasing thrust in the form of rockets.

Each of the eight JATO rockets put out about 1,000 pounds of thrust on ignition, allowing Fat Albert to takeoff in short distance, and reaching a 45-degree angle of ascent.

JATO technique was first utilized in WWII but since then became largely unnecessary as the take-off thrust of jet engines improved and is now rarely used. Only in certain circumstances, on specially equipped, mostly military, aircraft is JATO utilized today, instances include: combat scenarios where an aircraft would need to take off quickly, arctic take offs where the aircraft may lack traction on ice, and finally, air show demonstrations.

[Joe-sird]

I’m actually really upset they retired old boy. Since I was a kid I loved fat Albert. Sad to see him gone into retirement.