Some of the ideas that jet-powered-anything fanatics come up with are... well... take a look for yourself

We've all seen the jet powered vehicles out there on the air show circuit. Some of them are absolutely amazing... big rigs with not one, not two, but three massive afterburning jet engines blasting down runways and pushing 300 mph.

However, every once in while, someone with mechanical ability gets a truly bizarre idea of what to do with a jet engine. In this case, the engine is a Boeing 502 turbine engine, circa 1952. Who knew Boeing made jet engines? Go figure.

According to Paul Stender of Speed For Hire, many of his ideas come to him during 30 hour trips on the freeway, where the mind wanders. In Stender's case, it doesn't just wander, it engages in excursions. One of the trips resulted in an idea that turned into the Jet Port-O-John.

Picture this: Stender is performing at a show in his jet semi or jet truck. Pretty standard stuff, no? Lots of noise, lots of fire and a lot of fun. In the middle of the show, the driver decides that when you gotta go, you gotta go! So out comes the driver, and he runs toward what looks like your everyday, garden variety air show portable toilet.

You say to yourself "well, I guess he really had to go," and just when you begin to wonder what's going on, out of the port-o-john roars this ball of fire. Now your thoughts turn to basic survival instincts, and as you look around to find the closest exit route, just when you thought things couldn't get worse for spicy food fans all over the world, a turbine engine spools up, and the sound is coming from the same toilet!

This piece of fiberglass that appeared to be sitting quietly on the sideline now takes off on a roll, zooms to 70 mph if the tailwind is good, all the while belching fire and smoke. It looks like the poor guy inside is having a really bad day, but it's all in a day's work for Stender.

If you want to see Stender's show at your next local air show, make sure and tell the organizers. Paul Stender and Speed For Hire can be contacted with the FMI links below.

FMI: www.speedforhire.com, mailto:jettruck@aol.com