The ZELL
The Zell (zero length launcher) system was a product of Cold War planning. Faced with the possibility of an all out strike by Warsaw pact nations destroying aircraft runways, a ZELL bomber would be launched as a nuclear equipped aircraft. The U. S. Air Force experimented with fighter jets that could carry a nuclear bomb and a corresponding fuel tank for maximum range. Thunder Jets were tried but the Super Sabre was chosen as the aircraft to carry out this mission. Deployed in the European countryside a ZELL launcher and crew could withstand a enemies' surprise attack and be available for a counter strike. Using a rocket assist takeoff, the booster would get the jet airborne in 60 seconds. The landing gear was in the "Down" position should the Sabre fail to achieve the proper speed and altitude, giving the pilot a chance to recover his aircraft and return to ground level. The test flights were successful but the constant improvements in 1950's missile technology was such that the ZELL system was not adopted as a strategic defense.
The model: Another of my childhood "glue bombs", a restored 1/70 scale Revell Sabre Jet was used as the experimental aircraft. I lost the original Revell kit stand so I looked at a different approach to display the model. I recall Hawk models offered a F-86 in the ZELL configuration, a model I always wanted as a kid, but never made the purchase (I think it was about the time I switched to car models). The launcher was built from plastic sheeting and some wheels and axels from my 1/43 junkyard car parts stash. The supports for the landing gear were fashioned from plastic and the booster was from a drop tank and other junk box "stuff". The nuclear bomb was put together from a piece of an old rocket kit and painted green. Airbrushed in USAF blue it makes a different display piece. As always, a fun build.
That is an interesting build Mike, @john-galt. I had not heard of this system, and appreciate the operational picture you included. It looks like it would have been quite and exciting ride. A bit of a footnote on the one you built. That plane crashed into the ground after the pilot ejected from the plane when the booster rocket would not detatch. You can see a color picture of your plane and video of the launch, flight and pilot ejection here. https://clui.org/projects/down-earth-experimental-aircraft-crash-sites/f-100d-zel-april-11-1958
Nice effort of an obscure and interesting subject.
Thank you for the nice comment. The "down" landing gear would be used if the booster failed but if the pilot recovered the plane I don't know if he would find a runway to land on after a nuclear exchange. In fact it was viewed as a suicide mission for the pilot, any bases would probably be destroyed. I'll check out the video, thanks.
What a great project and really great result, Mike!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
Excellent build of this unique platform, Mike @john-galt
I was not aware of this ZELL program, very interesting.
Thank you, John.
Very cool, Mike (@john-galt). Nice work bringing a previously built, elderly, odd-scale F-100 together with a trailer to make this diorama. The F-100 could be quite a handful a low airspeeds and high angle-of-attack, so I can't imagine what launching would have been like.
Thank you for the comment. I forget how many "Gs" the pilot experienced when the booster was lit off, must have been a wild ride.
Never heard of this project.
Very nice build. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Yep - stumped me too - never heard of that project! My dad flew the Hun, so this is extremely interesting to me. What a great project!
Thanks Greg for the kind words.
I remember seeing that in a book as kid and thought….yikes!
Yes, I recall seeing this photo in a magazine (probably LIFE) and thinking the pilot was a man with nerves of steel.
Love this. Learned something new and there’s a superb model to go along with it. Well done!
Thank you!
You nailed this, nice job!
Thanks for the comment.