Originally Posted by
Hoser
Used have to lower the barrier at Eglin when a tanker would takeoff on runway 19. Saw one KC135 (old motors) rotate right at the end of the runway. MA1A was about 4' tall across the departure end, good thing that crew asked for it be lowered.
There's still a
WARNING in the -135 books, a holdover from the A-model days, stating (paraphrased): "The last 1,000' of runway remaining must be reserved for rotation. If 1,000' remaining is reached prior to S1 or Vrot, initiate rotation immediately." [S1 = V1]
I'm told that it was fairly routine, when heavy, to rotate based on runway remaining instead of speed. Glad I never flew A-models...!!