U.S. Air Force Reserve Jet Car Predicts a Big Win

TACOMA, Wash., July 22 -- In a fraction of the time it takes to sit through a red light, the U.S. Air Force Reserve Jet Car accelerates from zero to 400 mph! This jet-powered car, made of aluminum stretched over a chromemoly chassis, will create mini sonic booms as it thunders down a runway at McChord Air Force Base during the giant McChord Air Expo on Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31.

The Air Force Reserve Above & Beyond Jet Car boasts a Westinghouse J-34 jet engine that can crank out 10,000 horsepower and about 6,000 pounds of thrust. The engine, originally designed for the North American Buckeye T-2A Aircraft, is one of the fastest land vehicles and will show off its capabilities during the Air Expo.

This 26-foot long streak of red, white and blue is a marvel of engineering, but not exactly fuel efficient. The Jet Car uses about 40 gallons of diesel fuel as it streaks 1800 feet down the runway, which makes driving this vehicle akin to sitting on a rocket. To prove that point, the car has its own on-board fire extinguishing system.

The piloting duties primarily fall to Scott Hammack, who will be driving during the Air Expo, and the backup pilot is Bill Braack. Braack, who recently retired as a flight engineer with the U.S. Air Force Reserve, is looking forward to his return to McChord, where he served for ten years with the 313th Airlift Squadron. The third very important member of the Jet Car crew is Linda Hammack, Scott's wife.

During the performance, the 2,300 pound package of energy races a plane in flight, and usually wins, as the car pilot pull 4.5 G forces. Then comes the challenge of stopping the Jet Car. A ring slot parachute deploys to slow down the car and that hits the pilot with 11 Gs of negative force.

The Jet Car travels around the country in a Renton, Washington-built Kenworth tractor trailer measuring 79.5 feet in length, 13.5 feet high and 8.5 feet wide. The monster truck is wrapped in images of F-16s representing the four flying wings of the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

The U.S. Air Force Reserve is proud to support the Jet Car and its unique place in American aviation.