Lockheed F-104G Starfighter ZELL Program

ZELL= Zero Length Launch, a method whereby jet fighters could be near-vertically launched with no runway using rocket motors to rapidly gain speed and altitude. First eight ZeLL take-offs were at Edwards AFB in California during 1963. The ZeLL F-104G was moved to Germany for a total of seven more ZeLL test launches at Lechfeld AB between May 4, until July 12, 1966, when the program was abandoned. This concept was also tested on F-84 and F-100 aircraft in the 1950s. Official company issue.