JATO
America's first "rocket-assisted" take-off, an ERCO Ercoupe fitted with a GALCIT booster, in 1941, performed at March Field, California.

JATO is an acronym for jet-fuel assisted take off. It is a system for helping overloaded aircraft into the air by providing additional thrust in the form of small rockets.

The term is used interchangeably with the (more specific) term RATO, for Rocket-Assisted Take Off (or, in RAF parlance, RATOG for Rocket-Assisted Take Off Gear).

Early experiments and World War II[link]

Early experiments using rockets to boost gliders into the air were conducted in Germany in the 1920s (Lippisch Ente), and later both the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe introduced such systems in World War II.^[1] The British system used fairly large solid fuel rockets to shoot planes (typically the Hawker Hurricane) off a small ramp fitted to the fronts of merchant ships, known in service as Catapult armed merchantmen (or CAM Ships), in order to provide some cover against German reconnaissance planes. After firing, the rocket was released from the back of the plane to fall into the water and sink. The task done, the pilot would fly to friendly territory if possible or parachute from the plane, hopefully to be picked up by one of the escort vessels. Over two years the system was only employed nine times to attack German aircraft with 8 kills recorded for the loss of a single pilot.

The Luftwaffe also used the technique in order to help their small bombers, and the enormous Gigant, Messerschmitt Me 321 glider, conceived in 1940 for the invasion of Britain, and used to supply the Russian front which also had air tow assistance from up to three bombers, into the air with loads that would have made the takeoff run too long otherwise. This became especially important late in the war when the lengths of usable runways were severely curtailed due to the results of Allied bombing. Their system typically used Walter HWK 500 Starthilfe ("start-help") rocket engines driven by chemical decomposition of "T-Stoff", essentially almost pure hydrogen peroxide. A parachute pack at the front of the motor was used to slow its fall after being released from the plane, so the system could be re-used. First experiments were held in 1937 on an Heinkel He 111, piloted by test-pilot Erich Warsitz at Neuhardenberg, a large field about 70 kilometres east of Berlin, listed as a reserve airfield in the event of war.^[2] Other German experiments with JATO were aimed at assisting the launch of interceptor aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Me 262C, as the Heimatschützer special versions, usually fitted with either a version of the Walter HWK 109-509 liquid fuelled rocket engine from the Me 163 Komet program either in the extreme rear of the fuselage or semi-"podded" beneath it just behind the wing's trailing edge, to assist its Junkers Jumo 004 turbojets, or a pair of specially rocket-boosted BMW 003R combination jet-rocket powerplants in place of the Jumo 004s, so that the Me 262C Heimatschützer interceptors could reach enemy bomber formations sooner. Two prototypes of the Heimatschützer versions of the Me 262 were built and test flown, of the three designs proposed.

In early 1939, the United States National Academy of Sciences provided $1,000 to Theodore von Kármán and the Rocket Research Group at the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory to research rocket-assisted take-off of aircraft. This JATO research was the first rocket research to receive financial assistance from the U.S. government.^[3][4]

Post WWII[link]

C-130 cargo plane RATO takeoff from snow

After World War II JATO became particularly common owing to the low slow-speed thrust of then-current jet engines or for assisting heavy aircraft; the prop-engined Avro Shackelton used Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojets for takeoff. As the take-off thrust of jet engines has grown, JATO has fallen from favor. It is still used, however, when heavily-laden aircraft need to take off from short runways or when operating in "Hot and high" conditions.^[5]

Two similar zero-length launch experimental programs were carried out by the US Air Force and by the Soviet VVS at around the same time in the late 1950s. The US Air Force used a modified Republic F-84, designated EF-84G, which used the MGM-1 Matador cruise missile's solid fuel booster. The Soviet VVS used a modified MiG-19 fighter, designated SM-30, launched from a special launcher, and using a nearly identical solid fueled rocket booster design to that of the EF-84G. The F-100 and F-104 were also used for zero-length launch experiments.^[6]

Operation Credible Sport was a United States military operation plan in late 1980 to rescue hostages held by Iran using C-130 cargo planes modified with rocket engines to enable a very short take off and landing. The plan was canceled after an accident during the test landing when JATO units designed to cushion the landing fired too soon, causing the aircraft to crash-land.

Urban legend[link]

The JATO Rocket Car is an urban legend that relates the story of a car equipped with JATO units that is later found smashed into a mountainside. This story is often given as an example of a Darwin Award; however it appears to be apocryphal, with no basis in fact.^[7] The legend has been examined twice on the Discovery Channel show MythBusters. For the first attempt, in a 2003 pilot episode, the crew replicated the scene and the thrust of the JATO with some commercially-available amateur rocket motors. The car did go very fast, outrunning the chase helicopter, but nowhere near the 300 mph (500 km/h) reported in the original story, and failed to become airborne. The myth was revisited in 2007, using a different configuration of rockets in an attempt to make the car fly; however, it exploded before reaching the end of its launch ramp.

Images[link]

• 

  C-130 Hercules using RATO during takeoff

• 

  BQM-74E Chukar target drone using JATO

• 

  Swiss Air Force's Dassault Mirage IIIs in Payerne

• 

  BS.605 as used by the Buccaneer S.50

• 

  A RATO bottle

• 

  Expended RATO bottles being used as ashtrays in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

• 

  A Lockheed P-2 Neptune launches from the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42), 2 July 1951.

• 

  A rocket assisted Boeing B-47B take off.

• 

  A Grumman TBF torpedo bomber taking off with the aid of 330 horsepower jet-assisted unit in about half the normal run.

See also[link]

• Assisted take-off

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: JATO

• Video (Archive) of the Heinkel He 111 fitted with Walter's rocket boosters
• "Birth of JATO." Popular Science, July 1946, pp. 74-75.

Jeff Loomis
Jeff Loomis playing with Nevermore in Dinkelsbühl, August 16, 2007
Background information
Born	(1971-09-14) September 14, 1971 (age 40)
Origin	Menasha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Genres	Progressive metal, thrash metal, groove metal, neo-classical metal, death metal, instrumental rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, bass, keyboard, programming, drums, vocals
Years active	1987 – present
Associated acts	Nevermore, Sanctuary, Fear-Tech, Experiment Fear, System
Website	www.jeffloomis.com [3]
Notable instruments
Schecter Jeff Loomis Signature Series

Jeff Loomis (born September 14, 1971) is an American musician, best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Nevermore.

Biography[link]

Early days[link]

Loomis got his first instrument at nine or ten years old, but didn't start practicing seriously until around the age of 15.^[1] As a teenager in Wisconsin he played in a handful of cover bands and three death metal bands before joining more established bands.^[2][3] At the age of 16, Loomis won Wisconsin's Guitar Wars contest.^{[citation needed]}

He was auditioned for Megadeth (during the So Far, So Good...So What! era) at the age of 16, after their lead guitarist Jeff Young was fired from the band. After they played a few songs together, Dave Mustaine, the band's frontman and other lead guitarist, thanked Loomis and told him that one day he would become a great guitar player, but because of his age he was not right for the position.^[1] Jeff Loomis saw Cacophony on tour, and told Marty Friedman, who became very interested, about the audition. Marty tried out for the position and joined the band in 1989. In 2005, Loomis would then share the stage with Megadeth, as the lead guitarist for Nevermore as part of Mustaine's Gigantour festival. Jeff began to work on his solo album "Zero Order Phase". At this time Megadeth were having tryouts for a new guitarist once again and invited Jeff to join them. Jeff turned the band down in order to keep working on his solo album. Coincidentally, Loomis' co-guitarist in Nevermore, Chris Broderick, auditioned for Megadeth and was given the part.

Sanctuary (1990-1991)[link]

Not too long after being auditioned for the lead part in Megadeth (which was also auditioned for by Steve Smyth and Chris Broderick, both playing for his later band Nevermore at different points), Loomis was unable to join the band Sanctuary after guitarist Sean Blosl had left. He was able to take his place at this time; however, because of a dispute caused by guitarist Lenny Rutledge wanting to make grunge oriented music, Sanctuary broke up 4 months afterwards.^[1]

Nevermore (1991-2011)[link]

After the break-up, Loomis and former Sanctuary members Warrel Dane (vocalist) and Jim Sheppard (bassist) made plans to form Nevermore, and in late 1994, Loomis became the lead guitarist of Nevermore after the brief period being in Sanctuary. During his time in the band he was the main songwriter of Nevermore, adding to the unique sound that fans are familiar with. His contributions can be found in albums such as The Politics of Ecstasy, Dreaming Neon Black, This Godless Endeavor (including Steve Smyth, who previously featured in the band Testament) and Nevermore's 2010 album, The Obsidian Conspiracy. Loomis played an important role in portraying the sound that Nevermore has today, using 7 string guitars and techniques such as sweep-picking. One of his more important musical showcases is in the critically acclaimed album Dead Heart in a Dead World, in which he wrote most of the songs before Nevermore. On the 21st of April 2011, he along with Van Williams left Nevermore citing personal and musical differences with Warrel Dane.

Solo (2005-present)[link]

In 2005, Jeff reported that he would take some time as a break and then begin recording a solo album. He said, "It's something I've been wanting to do for sometime... It will be like a Jason Becker/Marty Friedman kind of thing." On April 1, 2008, Jeff said that all 10 songs which have been written have had the drumming recorded (which was done by Mark Arrington pretty much overnight) and they will soon begin tracking the rhythm guitar. On 3 July 2008, it was announced that the album would be called Zero Order Phase [4]. It was released 30 September via Century Media Records. During this time Dave Mustaine of Megadeth invited Jeff to join as the lead guitarist, but he declined the offer to work on his solo record. In an interview to Guitar Asylum, Jeff confirmed that a new solo record is in the works, and spoke about the possibility of having guest work by Chris Poland and Rusty Cooley. It is confirmed that guest solos on a second solo album will be done by Marty Friedman, Tony MacAlpine and Chris Poland.

It was announced on January 30, 2012, in a press release that included track listing and cover art, that the name of the new album will be Plains of Oblivion slated for release April 10, 2012 through Century Media Records.^[4]

Other[link]

Loomis had a monthly column^{[citation needed]} in Guitar World magazine entitled "Merchant of Menace" where he explained how to play the riffs and solos of Nevermore. In more recent columns, his former co-guitarist in Nevermore, Steve Smyth has co-written the column, which is dubbed "The Merchants of Menace." He has also been featured in Young Guitar Magazine, showing guitarists how to play, and explain his style and signature guitar in Nevermore.

In 2009 Guitar World released his first instructional video.

Slated for a Winter 2010 release; Jeff has recorded a 2 part instructional DVD series with RockHouseMethod. Recording took place late Fall of 2009.

He played as a guest guitar solo in the last Keith Merrow's album Awaken The Stone King, released on January 1, 2011.

As of 2008, he is engaged.

Equipment[link]

This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (February 2008)

Loomis plays various Schecter seven string guitars, including the Jeff Loomis C7 FR Signature Model with EMG 707 pickups and a Floyd Rose tremolo.^[2] He also plays a Schecter C-7 Hellraiser with EMG 707 active humbucker pickups, and the C-7 Blackjack with the Seymour Duncan Blackout pickups. Prior to Schecter he played a wide variety of guitars including Ibanez (Politics of Ecstasy period), Gibson, Jackson (Dreaming Neon Black period), ESP (Dead Heart... period), and Warmoth. In the video for 'Believe In Nothing' he can be seen using an LTD M series (either M400 or M100fm). He also owns a custom ESP Horizon 7. He endorsed Peavey amplifiers and used their XXX head. After that he endorsed Krank amplifiers and could be seen live using the Krankenstein heads and cabs. As of 2008 Jeff endorsed ENGL Amplification and used most of their heads at one time or another, most notably the SE 670, then the Fireball and finally their Savage heads and Engl cabs loaded with Vintage 30s. Early in 2007, Schecter guitars brought out the Jeff Loomis Signature Schecter 7 string, based on the C-7 Hellraiser model. It features the EMG 707 active pickups, ash body in 'vampyre red satin' and three piece maple neck with maple fretboard and Sperzel locking tuners. At NAMM 08 a new signature model was released. It is the same as his other one but it has a fixed bridge instead of a Floyd Rose.^[5] Jeff can also been seen on YouTube playing an electro acoustic LAG Tramontane T100 ASCEBLK.^[6]

Jeff uses Ernie ball strings, gauge 9-46+66 in Bb tuning along with Dunlop Tortex 2 mm Sharp picks. For amplification he is using the Engl Special Edition E570 Rack-mounted Preamp with Engl 100W Stereo Poweramp.

Effects pedals[link]

• Maxon OD808 Overdrive Pedal
• MXR Stereo Chorus
• Way Huge Electronics Green Rhino Mk II

Recording gear[link]

• Engl Amps - Engl Savage 120 head. Also E670
• Digidesign 002 Rack Protools unit
• Korg Padkontrol
• Apple Macbook Pro
• M Audio speakers for monitors (BX8's?)

Discography[link]

Nevermore[link]

• Nevermore (1995)
• In Memory (EP, 1996)
• The Politics of Ecstasy (1996)
• Dreaming Neon Black (1999)
• Dead Heart in a Dead World (2000)
• Enemies of Reality (2003, remixed in 2004)
• This Godless Endeavor (2005)
• The Year of the Voyager (2008)
• The Obsidian Conspiracy (2010)

Solo[link]

• Zero Order Phase (2008)
• Plains of Oblivion (2012)

Guest appearances[link]

• God Forbid - Gone Forever (2004)
• Pamela Moore - Stories from a Blue Room (2006)
• Annihilator - Metal (2007)
• Warrel Dane - Praises to the War Machine (2008)
• Marty Friedman - Future Addict (2008)
• Switchblade - Invictus Infinitum (2009)
• Tim "Ripper" Owens - Play My Game (2009)
• Periphery - Periphery (2010)
• Pale Gray Sky - Everything for Nothing (2010)
• Keith Merrow - Awaken The Stone King (2011)
• Stephan Forté - The Shadows Compendium (2011)
• 7 Horns 7 Eyes - Throes of Absolution (2011)^[7]
• Leander - Szívidomár (2012)^[8]

Instructional DVD[link]

• Super Shred - Guitar World

Extreme Lead Guitar: Dissonant Scales & Arpeggios (The Rock House Method)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jeff Loomis's website
• Disfunct official Nevermore website
• Interview with Jeff Loomis of Nevermore
• Jeff Loomis Interview