JATO (Jet-Assisted-Take-Off) Unit, Ercoupe
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Object Details
- Manufacturer
- GALCIT Rocket Research Project (Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)
- Summary
- This is one of the first successfully flown JATO (Jet-Assisted-Take-Off) rockets in the U.S. It was used on an Ercoupe light aircraft in tests in 1941 at March Field, California. JATOs shortened distances for takeoffs of planes. The motor was designed and made under the GALCIT Rocket Research Project (Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology).
- The solid propellant JATO produced 28 pounds of thrust for about 12 seconds. Six units were used in each test of the 750 pound plane. The Ercoupe tests led in 1942 to a U.S. Navy contract with GALCIT and the formation of the Aerojet Engineering Company. The Aerojet General Corporation donated this JATO to the Smithsonian in 1968.
- Credit Line
- Aerojet General Corp.
- 1941
- Inventory Number
- A19680556000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- PROPULSION-Rocket Engines
- Materials
- Steel
- Ceramic
- Cadmium Plating
- Paint
- Dimensions
- 3-D (note): 41.9 × 9.5 × 14.6cm, 4.8kg (1 ft. 4 1/2 in. × 3 3/4 in. × 5 3/4 in., 10.5lb.)
- Storage (Wooden Crate): 105.4 × 125.7 × 157.5cm, 177.8kg (3 ft. 5 1/2 in. × 4 ft. 1 1/2 in. × 5 ft. 2 in., 392lb.)
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19680556000
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9b76ab1ed-8a91-4d83-ac98-49f6b0fbcd7d
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