Originally Posted by
Mogwi
There is a small advantage in launching conventional aircraft from a ramp because the first few seconds of flight are partially ballistic, giving the aircraft time to accelerate to above stalling speed. Mog
Thanks for that. Sounds to me as if a full fuel and weapons load could easily make it all pretty marginal.
On the subject of Harrier take-off performance, at Gioia del Colle in Aug 1995 (v.hot) we were filming Jaguars and Harriers on OP DELIBERATE FORCE for HQSTC. To catch the Jaguars getting airborne we had to position a long way down the runway. The Harriers were at about 500’ by the time they went past!