The Air Force Reserve Above and Beyond Jet Car, powered by a 10,000 horsepower Westinghouse J-34 jet engine from a T-2C Buckeye aircraft, lights its afterburner in front of the F-16C Fighting Falcons of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron at the 2005 Air Power Over Hampton Roads air show held at Langley Air Force Base, Va., on Saturday. (Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain / U.S. Navy)
THE SHOW
At the end of the runway, the jet car waits. An airplane above has challenged Scott Hammack to a race. Jaws drop as the aircraft approaches and you put your hands over your ears to block the deafening noise. Scott kicks in the afterburner and accelerates. Before you can take a breath, the Air Force Reserve Jet Car is roaring down the runway in a veil of smoke and a shower of scarlet flames. You can feel the reverberations of mini sonic booms. Within seconds Scott approaches 400 mph and overtakes the plane. As Scott zooms past the aircraft, he pulls 4.5 G forces. Then he deploys the parachute to bring the car to a stop. 11 Gs of negative force rattle his body. The crowd cheers with delight as Scott gets out of the car and waves to his fans.
THE CAR
The Air Force Reserve Above & Beyond Jet Car is powered by a Westinghouse J-34 jet engine that develops 10,000 horsepower and 6,000 pounds of thrust. This engine was originally used in a North American Buckeye T-2A aircraft. The car is made of aluminum and magnesium, weighs 2,300 pounds, is 26 feet long, and uses 40 gallons of diesel fuel for each performance. Two ring-slot parachutes (one is a back-up) can bring the car to a stop in less than 2,000 feet. It also houses an on-board fire extinguisher system. The car is the first jet-powered ground act to break into the air show industry.
THE CREW
Scott Hammack’s wife, Linda, has been a full-time crew member for more than 10 years. Bill Braack rounds out the crew and is a flight engineer with the Air Force Reserve. Bill became a member of Scott’s crew more than five years ago.