DAPRA has been working on ways to launch and retrieve fixed wing drones without a runway. Here's their latest solution. When do you think one of these will be installed at Johnson Creek? This would make the VALDEZ competition pretty boring. Every plane would have the exact same result. Phooey on that!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIX3_QCmaUM

here is a more interesting way to launch a plane with no runway, it also worked with an f-84.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oImq1glnOds

The music for the F100 demo was definitely better! Still, This system doesn't help with landing distance.

I like:

https://youtu.be/o9vAWEgw6cc?t=7

-Glen N168C

Well if you want to get stopped short, theres always Operation Credible Sport:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etzqmtYcpCQ

OE

That reminds me of our old L-4 Grasshopper. I wish we still had the airplane but it went to a new owner after my father passed away. If you guys ever went to Oshkosh, you might have seen us! I think we still have the awards we won there, don't want to let those go...

Here is Rick (rip)



Here it is at an airshow last year. At least it is still flying.


And here are a few photos of how the system looked while in use.



I have a photo of us all together with the old bird somewhere, I'll start looking for it now that you guys made me think about it

that's cool!! wow