Consolidated PB2Y-3 Coronado Flying Boat with Integral JATO Units (1943-44)

jzichek

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Check out this article at RetroMechanix.com on an experimental Consolidated PB2Y-3 Coronado flying boat equipped with integral JATO motors in the rear step of the hull:


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I believe the installation is unique to this particular Coronado, as JATO units were normally hung externally under wing and shed after take off. The article features 33 high resolution detail photos of the rocket motor installation and tests thereof; a schematic of the same; and a detailed technical description of the program. Worth checking out if you are a fan of vintage flying boats and unusual test vehicles!


-Jared
 
You must wonder if the crew considered using their JATO unit in mid-air if they were 'jumped' by an IJN scout-plane...
 
I suppose it could have been used for this purpose, though it probably would have already expelled all the propellant on take off.
 
I suspect that the mission was to use JATO bottles to assist over-loaded take-offs at the start of long trans-Pacific flights. An extra hour of fuel could make the difference between alighting at their destination versus disappearing at sea.

As late as the 1960s, USN Martin Marlin flying boats - patrolling the coast of Vietnam - used JATO bottles to assist take-off when carrying the maximum possible fuel loads. They carried full internal fuel plus drop tanks to extend the duration of patrols.
 
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What engine are they using on that? It looks like it's liquid fuel due to the low amount of smoke it's giving off.

This is the normal JATO setup for a Coronado using Aerojet solid fuel JATO units

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I would think having the rocket motor on the hull step and submerged, or possibly submerged, when floating would be a huge issue.
 
The side mounted JATO units are Aerojet 14KS1000 solid fuel units. These ran on variants of GALCIT 63 and gave 1000 lbs. of thrust for 14 seconds.

But that doesn't explain the OP engine.
 

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