Here’s the first time an F-35B has taken off from a ski jump. The little boost not only looks cool, like a stunt ramp, but helps the fighter jet take off with a more upward flight path. These type of ski ramps are actually installed on aircraft carriers so it’s important for the, um, troubled (cursed?) aircraft to nail it lest it take a dive into the ocean.
The use of a ski-jump for carrier operations is used around the world for both standard fixed wing and STOVL (Harrier) carrier aircraft. This configuration allows for less thrust and/or higher operating weights, depending on a myriad of variables, than a traditional flat deck.