RATOs and aircraft launched rockets been done and just saying “Don’t do it!!!” will not dissuade anyone. Better to tell someone contemplating it Why they should not and let them learn from the past. I’ll claim a hat trick on this one:

-I had an out of control trainer strike me in the back while I was in the pits ~15 years ago. Luckily it was winter and I had my favorite heavy duty parka on. The prop chewed the parka to hell and I got a nice black and blue mark for a few weeks. The guy was a real jerk about it too, luckily he had AMA insurance and I had a sore back.


When done properly RATO is pretty cool. But there are many problems:

-Timing of the ignition. Even with a good solid ignition setup it was 50/50 getting the thing to ignite at the proper time. Half the time it would ignite too late, a few times it did not ignite at all. You have to ask yourself how comfortable you feel approaching an aircraft with a live rocket engine attached and putting your fingers near it to disarm it. Also ask yourself how you feel making your landing approach with a misfire while pointed near a populated area (the pits), knowing it may light off at a time when you are slow and have marginal control of the aircraft.

-Fire. If you use the ejection charge where is the engine going to go? Again, in the event of a misfire and late ejection is it possible the hot engine will eject into dry grass and start a fire?

-Initial tests. We figured out how to align the thrust of the rockets with the aircraft, but the first few flights were “exciting”. Misfires/early ignitions when the aircraft was under ballistic rocket power with no aerodynamic control resulted in a couple mishaps.


As far as launching rockets, they have the same problems as above but in the event of a hung fire you are now dealing with a potentially lethal projectile you have no control over. Coming into land with a hot unguided missile on your wing brings all new meaning to the phrase “Oh Shiot.”. If one had ever gone off on final approach there was no way someone was going to get out of the way. When I got hit by the trainer I heard someone yell “Look out!”. I ducked but it still got me. Now imagine a rocket going many many times faster.


Yes, there are rocket powered boost gliders. But they launch vertically and in the event of a misfire their trajectory is still straight up. As far as casing bursts go, I never had one and do not feel I can comment on the risk factor.


Are you willing to be responsible for these risks and the consequences of these problems? I eventually gave it up after about 15 RATOs and a half dozen wing mounted rocket launches. The risk/reward curve was too far to the risk side.

Remember the mark of anything that looks easy: When done by professionals very complicated and dangerous things look easy. Often they are exactly the opposite.


This is not something that should be attempted in any way, shape, or form by beginners. And if you ask me how we did it I won't answer.

Steve