More pics of the night ops trials:
Aircraft Carriers III
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
F-35 Lightning fighter jets have conducted their first night flying trials off the United Kingdom’s largest warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The aircraft carrier, which first landed F-35 Lightning jets on board last week, is currently conducting flight testing off the east coast of the United States.
Pictures show how the night time trials, which up until now have only been tested in simulators or on the ground, were carried out using state-of-the-art night-vision technology, with the pilots and aircraft handlers successfully guiding the supersonic fighter jets onto the flight deck.
Some trials were also carried out without night vision technology to ensure the jets’ capability in any eventuality.(Courtesy photos by Royal Navy)
For many MORE PIX go here >>>
The aircraft carrier, which first landed F-35 Lightning jets on board last week, is currently conducting flight testing off the east coast of the United States.
Pictures show how the night time trials, which up until now have only been tested in simulators or on the ground, were carried out using state-of-the-art night-vision technology, with the pilots and aircraft handlers successfully guiding the supersonic fighter jets onto the flight deck.
Some trials were also carried out without night vision technology to ensure the jets’ capability in any eventuality.(Courtesy photos by Royal Navy)
For many MORE PIX go here >>>
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Some more:
The requirement is to deliver 15,000 lbs at 500 nm. Where you are getting 10,000 lbs from?
Jura The idiot
General
Jura The idiot
General
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Other than the society-wide perception that Steam is old fashioned. It works though, it's a known quantity and mature technology. EMALS had a lot of promise, gentler acceleration putting less stress on the airframes, it should be remembered the US has spent large amounts of money rebuilding/re-barrelling aircraft such as the Hornet because of the long term stresses of catapult launch (and arrested landings), and if programmes like these could be eliminated or at least reduced the savings alone would pay for the development of the new technology. It works on land, it seems it has yet to work as safely and reliably at sea as promised, for now anyway. Science and engineering don't care about your timetables, they are what they are and they'll work in their own good time!
Actually according to the USN in 81 days at sea GRF has..;
"Since commissioning on , Ford has successfully completed nearly 750 shipboard aircraft launches and recoveries, nearly double the approximately 400 launches and recoveries originally planned, according to the Navy. Ford also certified its air traffic control center, its JP-5 fuel system, demonstrated daytime and nighttime replenishment capability and the ship’s defensive systems. Ford was delivered to the Navy in June 2017, a year-and-a-half later than planned"......
The article did not mention how many wave offs and cancelled launches occurred because of faulty equipment.
Some more atmospheric shots from the night trials; plus Lt Cmdr Grey immediately after his first landing aboard QE. The presentation was by the youngest member of the ship's company, who coincidentally shares his name with the first pilot to ever land a plane on a ship at sea:
