NoHoverStop wrote:

Ralph Savelsberg wrote:


My favorite TV show about cars BBC's `Top Gear' showed a little
stunt they pulled on HMS Invincible. The BBC's own Jaguar XJS
(minus every bit of interior and exterior trim imaginable and
plus a nitro kit) accelerated across Invincible's deck. At the
point where the RN's Sea Harriers would ordinarily reach 100
mph, the Jag did 109! Sadly though, unlike the Jag, Harriers are
able to become airborne and stay there for quite a while after
passing over the end of the deck. The Jag also became airborne
briefly, but then plunged into the water. Great Television.

The "air-gun" exhaust plume was rather obvious on the shot as the
car left the ramp. I don't know for sure but I suggest they drove
the car along the deck a bit (not at anything like 109mph),
stopped and then set up the ramp-exit shot sans driver. I know a
bit about ski-jump dynamics and that car barely fell off the end.
Still, I'm sure everyone had fun.

That would seem like a way to do it. Obviously a camera shot with a JAG
passing over a line with the little text 109mph in the bottom courner
looks rather neat, but doesn't prove anything. It was great fun to
watch, though.

Regards,
Ralph Savelsberg