Is it normal to have aircraft aboard while in port? Unless those are mockups (unlikely), I thought her deck should be empty.
CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Yes, it is very common for a carrier to retain her carrier air wing (i.e., actual carrier-based aircraft) onboard while being moored at base/port.
Here's CVN-74 John C. Stennis doing so at Busan, South Korea:
On the other hand, if the carrier is to be drydocked for repairs, maintenance, retrofits, upgrades, and/or overhauls, then all of her carrier air wing (i.e., carrier-based aircraft) onboard would be flown to land bases before the drydocking.
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For Fujian specifically I would think a handful of aircraft remaining onboard indicates ongoing testing, validation, certification etc. There seems no real reason flying aircraft off to land bases, as there is no need yet for unit rotation, recuperation etc.
Once a carrier and its assigned units are fully operational/in rotational deployment, this dynamic will change. If there is existing infrastructure supporting the carrier air wing nearby (such as in Japan), the aircraft relocate. If they visit foreign ports, or national bases nearby are not equipped to handle the air wing, they will remain onboard.
Once a carrier and its assigned units are fully operational/in rotational deployment, this dynamic will change. If there is existing infrastructure supporting the carrier air wing nearby (such as in Japan), the aircraft relocate. If they visit foreign ports, or national bases nearby are not equipped to handle the air wing, they will remain onboard.
Very true. However;
The main reason the USN leaves aircraft on deck in port is for a show of force. Simple as that.
And when deployed as CVN-74 in the posted photo above a shore base may not be available.
Is this the first time we've seen folding wings in the J-35?
