Videos tagged with ZLTO

This video explores the fascinating Zero-Length Launch System (ZELL), a Cold War-era concept for near-vertical jet fighter takeoffs using powerful rocket boosters. The description details the system's origins, its primary advantage of eliminating reliance on vulnerable airfields, and the operational challenges that ultimately led to its abandonment. Experiments were conducted by the US Air Force, Luftwaffe, and Soviet VVS with aircraft like the F-84G, F-100 Super Sabre, and MiG-19, utilizing solid-fuel rocket motors to achieve rapid acceleration and altitude gain. The video touches on the strategic implications during the Cold War and the practicalities of deploying such systems, including the potential for nuclear strike missions.