SAC Alerts meant that all aircraft (B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers) would be airborne from their airbase within 15 minutes of the alert klaxon horn's soundings. A normal contingent of alert aircraft would consist of five B-52's and four KC-135 tankers with takeoff time limits of 12-15 seconds for B-52's and 60 seconds for KC-135's, depending on their position in the lineup. All aircraft would be gone within 15 minutes. This meant that the first aircraft (always a B-52) would have to be airborne in seven minutes. Where possible, some SAC airbases had three center lines painted on their runway. The aircraft would, in order, stagger their take offs: (a) right side; (b) center; and (c) left side to diminish the jet wash effect on the following aircraft.
Two other unfortunate issues associated with the minimum interval take off was (a) in warmer climates, as each aircraft took off, its exhaust raised the air temperature on the runway which increased the take off distances of each following aircraft (especially for the fully loaded KC-135 tankers at the back of the pack).
(b) the Pratt and Whitney J-57 jet engines utilized water injection for temporary horsepower boost during takeoffs and rapid altitude changes. When used, it would create large amounts of visibly dark exhaust fumes. This caused a problem during the MITO takeoffs because if there wasn't a head or side wind on the runway to remove the smoke, the aircraft in the back part of the group would be totally blacked out and would have to take off on instruments.