Jato rocket / car story a myth?

[Jeff396]

Did anyone see that new show Myth Busters last night. They went about trying to disprove the old Jato rocket/car story from the Darwin awards. What they did was get some rockets that would create the same amount of thrust as a Jato.....The airforce wouldn't sell them a Jato. Then they rigged a '65 Chevy with remote control. Then, while following in a helicopter they ran the car up to 80 mph and ignited the rockets. Turns out the car only got up to about 140 mph rather than the 300 plus mph reported in the story and it did not lose control. Their conclusion was that it's just another urban myth./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

They also reported on a car where some 25 of the rockets were attached. This car has the unofficial land speed record as some 600 mph I believe they said. Apparently, many other cars have strapped one of these rockets on in the past with non spectacular results.

Jeff

 

[RobS]

Shoot, that's nothing Jeff. Did you see this motorcycle that DC is actually considering building... From the press release:

DODGE TOMAHAWK CONCEPT VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Body Style: Single-seat Viper-powered motorcycle concept vehicle

DIMENSIONS:

Overall Length: 102 inches
Overall Width: 27.7 inches
Overall Height: 36.9 inches
Wheelbase: 76 inches
Seat Height: 29 inches
Curb Weight: 1,500 lbs.
Track, Front: 8.75 inches
Track, Rear: 10 inches
Weight Dist., % F/R: 49/51
Ground Clearance: 3 inches
Fuel Tank Capacity: 3.25 gallons

ENGINE: 8.3-LITER, OHV, 20-VALVE SMPI V-10

Type and Description: 10-cylinder 90-degree V-type, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 505 cubic inches (8277 cc)
Construction: 356-T6 aluminum alloy block with cast-iron liners, aluminum alloy cylinder heads
Bore x Stroke: 4.03 inches x 3.96 inches (102.4 x 100.6)
Valve System: Two pushrod-actuated overhead valves per cylinder with roller-type hydraulic lifters
Fuel Injection: Sequential, multi-port electronic with individual runners
Compression Ratio: 9.6:1
Power (SAE net): 500 bhp (372 kW) @ 5600 rpm (60.4 bhp/liter)
Torque (SAE net): 525 lb.-ft. (712 N•m) @ 4200 rpm
Max Engine Speed: 6000 rpm
Fuel Requirement: Unleaded premium, 93 octane (R+M/2)
Oil System: Dry Sump
Oil Capacity: 8 qts. Mobil1 10W30 Synthetic
Cooling System: Twin aluminum radiators mounted atop engine intake manifolds, force-fed from front-mounted, belt-driven turbine fan
Coolant Capacity: 11 qts.
Exhaust System: Equal-length tubular stainless steel headers with dual collectors and central rear outlets

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:

Alternator: 136-amp high-speed
Battery: Leak-resistant, maintenance-free 600 CCA
Lighting: Headlights consist of 12 five-watt LEDs, front, with beam-modifying optics and masked lenses. Eight LEDs, rear. Headlamps articulate with wheels.

TRANSMISSION: Manual, foot-shifted two-speed

Type: Aluminum-cased two-speed, sequential racing-style with dog ring, straight-cut gears
Gear Ratios:
1st 18:38
2nd 23:25
Clutch: Double-disc, dry-plate with organic friction materials, hand lever actuated with assist

FINAL DRIVE: Dual 110-link motorcycle-style chains

Front Sprockets: 14 teeth
Rear Sprockets: 35 teeth

BODY/CHASSIS:

Layout: Longitudinal, centrally mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
Chassis Construction: Monocoque, engine is central, stressed member
Body Construction: Billet aluminum

SUSPENSION:

Front: Outboard, single-sided parallel upper and lower control arms made from polished billet aluminum. Mounted via ball joint to aluminum steering uprights and hubs. Five degrees caster. Single, fully adjustable centrally located coil-over damper (2.25-inch coil with adjustable spring perch); pullrod and rocker-actuated mono linkage. Center-lock racing-style hubs

Rear: Hand-fabricated box-section steel inboard swing arms, incorporating “hydral-link” lockable recirculating hydraulic circuit parking stand. Single fully adjustable centrally located Koni coil-over damper (2.25-inch coil with adjustable spring perch); pushrod and rocker-actuated mono linkage. Center-lock racing-style hubs

STEERING:

Type: Dual hub center type.
Steering Linkage: Rocker arm and push/pull rod with roller bearings. Polished billet aluminum steering yoke with turned aluminum grips and billet levers
Steering Lock: 20 degrees, left and right
Lean Angle: 45 degrees, left and right

TIRES (4):

Mfr. and Model: Dunlop custom-made symmetrical
Size, Front (2): P120/60R-20
Size, Rear (2): P150/50R-20

WHEELS (4):

Type and Material: Billet aluminum discs, asymmetrical
Size, Front (2): 20x4
Size, Rear (2): 20x5

BRAKES:

Front: 20-inch perimeter-mounted drilled machined stainless steel rotors, one per wheel. Two four-piston fixed aluminum calipers per wheel (16 pistons total), custom designed. Blue anodized caliper finish. Hand-activated.
Rear: 20-inch perimeter-mounted drilled cast-iron rotors, one per wheel. One four-piston fixed aluminum caliper per wheel (8 pistons total), custom designed. Blue anodized caliper finish. Foot-activated.

PERFORMANCE:

0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds (est.)
Top Speed: 300+ mph (est.)

Here's a link with some cool pics <A target="_blank" HREF=http://venus.13x.com/roadracingworld/scripts/NewsInsert.asp?insert=4980>Tomahawk</A> /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Jeff396]

Wait a minute, it's got 4 tires. Wouldn't that be an extremely thin open air car?/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff

 

[Hoeman00]

Where do we get to TEST DRIVE it ???????????
Got to be a blast.

 

[Loges1]

Where do we get to TEST DRIVE it ???????????
Got to be a blast.

It would probably take a 2X4 or plastic surgery to take the smile off of my face after a test drive!!!

 

[RobS]

I don't know, but after a 300 mph romp on this thing it may take more than plastic surgery to rebuild your smile/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[TresCrows]

Is this the one that supposedly ocurred near Tuscon? I suspect not all JATO is the same, anyhting that can move a C130 would likely propel a Chevy. On the other hand, I doubt the idiot could have fabricated a means of keeping it attached. I suspect it is a myth. J

 

[Jeff396]

Yes, it was the one that supposedly happened in Arizona somewhere. They spoke as if there was only one size Jato and that it was capable of pushing out 1000 lbs of thrust for about 15 seconds. I remember seeing the Blue Angels supply plane using them in a demonstration at an air show. I'm not sure of the actual model cargo plane but I remember they simply used more of the Jatos to get the boost they needed. I believe they used 6 or 8 of them.

Jeff

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

It's more fun to believe. Has anyone seen a Sasquash(sp)

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.snopes.com/autos/dream/jato.asp>More of the Myth</A>

 

[bgott]

All you'd have to do is bungee cord the unit on the roof.