RidgeRunner Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Many of you might have seen this but it was re-sent to me yesterday so I thought I’d post it for all. Martin 15 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Not exactly a stealth launch, was it? Can you image a squadron getting off the ground like that? Thanks for the share, I've never seen any ZELL footage before. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 I would like to see the entire documentary, seems to be a history of the modern Luftwaffe judging from the voice-over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 There is a documentary (The World's Shortest Runway?) that shows the first testing using a 'Iron Bird' off the trailer and then in a dummy alert barn. Lots of failed launches, which must have been 'interesting'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orso Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 F-100 as well: 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 Just to keep the balance and show it wasn't just our American friends who had thought of it Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Of course, there's an obvious error in the train of thought that instigated this idea. "Now we can take off when we don't have a runway!" Ok, smartpants, how about landing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 22 minutes ago, alt-92 said: Ok, smartpants, how about landing? Yes, and says that in the film above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Very interesting. But "is it safe"... Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sierra Mike Sierra Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 (edited) The Soviet rocket motor was almost smokeless, it seems, yet the NATO propellant is certainly more impressive 😉 I found this clip providing some additional info on the Luftwaffe's ZELL program, though I cannot vouch for historical / technical accuracy. They also mention another program called SATS, involving catapult launches. Edited December 6, 2021 by Sierra Mike Sierra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Pioneered on the Thunderjet: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 On 12/5/2021 at 9:12 AM, Orso said: F-100 as well: Loved the aileron roll after the booster was jettisoned! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orso Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 If I could find drawings of the launch pad I wouldn't mind build a F-104 on one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinback Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 On 12/9/2021 at 12:26 AM, Orso said: If I could find drawings of the launch pad I wouldn't mind build a F-104 on one. Hi Orso If its any help I made a go at the US ZELL version in a previous Starfighter Group Build but never posted in the RFI . I will post some shots in the RFI shortly I 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Maas Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 (edited) On 12/5/2021 at 4:32 PM, RidgeRunner said: Just to keep the balance and show it wasn't just our American friends who had thought of it Martin I'm pretty sure the FAA thought it up originally. The ZELL is a clear development of the rocket catapult used with Sea Hurricanes on CAM ships in WW2. It's of course a specific JATO/RATO development and that dates to Germany in the 1920's originally, although as far as I'm aware the first to combine launch rails and RATO was the Royal Navy. Edited December 11, 2021 by Adam Maas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted December 11, 2021 Author Share Posted December 11, 2021 I’m comforted to know that the RN was in the mix too, and (possibly) the first Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeejeeZ Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 On 06/12/2021 at 20:41, Britman said: Very interesting. But "is it safe"... Keith 😆That was my first thought too when I read Zell! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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