Chapter 388 Reverse Thrust Rocket

One of the important advantages of propeller engines is that they require low take-off and landing speeds! Aircraft in World War I and World War II could take off as long as there was a flat piece of land! When aircraft entered the jet age, various requirements were higher.

C-130, as an excellent American transport aircraft, has outstanding field takeoff and landing capabilities. Not only can it take off and land on a flat surface in the wild, it can even land in the desert, and it can also land on aircraft carriers!

In the 1960s, the United States was looking for a transport aircraft for its aircraft carriers, and it chose the C-130. It does not require a special landing hook, and can land fully loaded on an aircraft carrier in just a short distance of 150 meters! Moreover, when taking off, it does not need a catapult, and can fly on its own power! If it were not for the large area it occupies and the need to clear the deck of the aircraft carrier, the US Navy would really use this transport aircraft as an aircraft carrier carrier.

This is also the reason why Water chose the C-130. However, if it wants to land in an area as large as a football field, it still needs to be improved. Not only does it have to fly, but it also has to climb quickly because there are buildings all around!

To take off, you need to install a special booster rocket, a one-time one, as long as it can meet the needs!

Lockheed engineers stood by and observed the takeoff and landing. They had conducted five experiments and all went smoothly.

The four engines started one after another, the propellers spun faster and faster, and the moment the brakes were released, the pilot pressed the switch.

In an instant, the rocket engine at the lower rear of the fuselage ignited. The blazing flame dazzled everyone. The huge thrust allowed the C-130 to be pulled up after only sliding for less than fifty meters!

"Good, very successful!" Lockheed engineers were very satisfied. The takeoff was very easy! This time, the experiment was no longer empty, but with the same weight added, simulating takeoff and landing with a full load of people!

The engine roared and the rocket booster continued to burn for twenty seconds. The C-130 had climbed several hundred meters into the air. Then, it made three turns, aligned with the runway, and prepared to land!

When the roar of the engine was heard again, everyone shielded their eyes from the sunlight with their hands and looked at the incoming transport plane.

If this experiment is successful, it will prove that this plan is completely feasible!

"Prepare to land!" The ground commander's voice came through the headset. Pilot George methodically flipped various switches, lowered the landing gear, and turned on the engine reverse thrust device...

The landing route was very standard. As an experienced pilot, George already had a thousand flights under his belt. This time, it would be as smooth as the previous few days!

There was a slight vibration from the fuselage, probably because it had touched the ground, and George turned on the switch on the other side.

"Oh, no!" the personnel on the ground shouted loudly. The landing gear had not yet touched the ground and the rocket reverse thrust device could not be opened!

Unfortunately, it was too late. When the ground personnel saw it, the eight booster rockets at the front of the aircraft had already been extended under the action of the hydraulic device, and then, a hot air flow gushed out.

When the landing gear touches the ground, the reverse thrust rockets can greatly reduce the landing distance. However, directly launching these huge thrust rockets in the air will only result in one result!

At the moment when the rocket ignited, the fuselage seemed to hit a wall and stopped suddenly. Then, the front part of the nose of the aircraft, where the rocket was tied, had been torn apart!

The nose of the plane fell off, but the reverse thrust rockets were still working. In an instant, the fire had surrounded the nose of the plane! Then the fuselage fell heavily to the ground and broke into pieces.

The entire plane disintegrated!

"Hurry, hurry to put out the fire!" the ground commander shouted loudly. No one expected that this important test flight would result in huge losses due to the pilot's operational error!

The fire truck arrived in thirty seconds with sirens blaring, but it was still too late!

Looking at all this, Captain Water sat down on the ground. Although it was an operator error this time, it also confirmed that the success rate of such a fantastic plan of using a C-130 to land on a football field was very low!

"Mr. President, look at this." At the White House, President Carter was in a bad mood after learning that a serious accident had occurred on the C-130 booster rocket. However, the following news made him even more depressed.

"Fritt!" Carter shouted immediately when he saw the man in the photo. This was a member of the MSG team of the US Embassy in Iran, who was taken hostage by Iran together.

Now, Fleet's body has been thrown in a square in Tehran, and he, along with other American team members, is being tortured by the Iranians.

"What's going on?" Carter asked loudly. The CIA director's face was also filled with anger.

"The Iranians beat our men, and Fleet was the most severely beaten. Our spies found that Fleet was sent to the hospital for rescue, but the rescue was ineffective and he still died. The Iranians threw his body in the square, which was actually a demonstration against us." said CIA Director Admiral Stein.

The failure of the first US military rescue operation and the sacrifice of the soldiers who went on the mission was tolerable. But now, these hostages were tortured to death, which has completely exceeded the bottom line of what the United States can tolerate!

"We have observed that the Iranians have transferred our hostages. There are less than five people left in the embassy. It is meaningless for us to carry out a rescue operation," Admiral Stan continued.

After the failure of the last operation, the Iranians transferred most of the hostages, and it is almost impossible to rescue them!

"Hmn, very good, you have successfully angered the entire America!" President Carter's tone was cold. He was unwilling to choose war. He just hoped to resolve this matter as soon as possible. But now, the United States can no longer tolerate it!

"Contact the Pakistani ambassador immediately!" Carter said, "We need to have a discussion with Pakistan. If Pakistan is willing to let us use their bases, we will give Pakistan all kinds of support, including sanctions against India!"

"Notify Congress immediately that we are going to hold an important meeting and I will make a report," Carter continued.

War, war, the Iranians are choosing war! Carter was filled with anger, but at the same time, as a US leader, he knew that this plan was not bad. The US must control Iran. The US has already lost its strategic advantages in the Far East and cannot lose these advantages in the Middle East again!