CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

[Intrepid]

Are the double tracks part of the EMAL or aircraft tyre marks? If it's the latter, it could be indirect confirmation that aircraft have been launched. (Or it could be that of a test load)

There are two catapults parallel, about 30 Meters apart.

 

[Quickie]

There are two catapults parallel, about 30 Meters apart.

That is not what I meant. Along each of the 2 catapults, there is a pair of tracks about 2 to 3 metres apart (starting from where the dark rectangular area ends).

Anyway, it now looks to me the tracks are a part of the catapults.

 

[Blitzo]

That is not what I meant. Along each of the 2 catapults, there is a pair of tracks about 2 to 3 metres apart (starting from where the dark rectangular area ends).

Anyway, it now looks to me the tracks are a part of the catapults.

First, I feel like it is very unlikely that we will be able to see from satellite whether an aircraft has been launched from the catapults, especially early on, because we typically need much higher quality images to definitively see skid marks, not to mention the catapult structure itself is a much darker grey than the surrounding tarmac.


In this case, the pair of tracks are part of the ground structure, I think it is probably related to launching secured ground based dead weights.

Lakehurst has similar structures alongside its own catapults as well:

one picture from the ground:

one picture of the facility prior to EMALS being installed:

 

[Blitzo]

x post
deino posted this high quality picture of huangdicun over on CDF. Very nice. Looks legit.

For those unknown, the top catapult should be EM cat the bottom catapult should be steam

 

[Hendrik_2000]

The facility look completed. So the rumor has some traction as of now

 

[Blitzo]

my entry on the catapult construction at Huangdicun and J-15A

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[jobjed]

Wrong thread

 

[GreenestGDP]

Courtesy of ZRZY @ PDF

Top catapult should be steam cat.
Bottom catapult should be EM cat.
Reason is here, quoted from:

LR = Left Runway = EMAL
RR = Right Runway = Steam

Obviously Logic said the Left Runway ( Narrower and Longer ) is the EMAL Catapult runway.
Why ?

1*) LR is much simpler and use much less supporting equipments ( Red roof bldg, perhaps housing Electronic ).
Because, EMAL Cat is much simpler and use much less supporting equipments,
plus EMAL Cat space usage is much smaller compares to the Steam Cat.

2*) RR is much more complex and use much more supporting equipments ( Red roof bldg + Greyish roof bldg ).
3*) RR is wider. underneath has much more complex supporting equipments ( Steam / Water pipings ).
4.) RR is located closer to the water source ( tiny river running to the sea )
4a.) Thus, it is ILLOGICAL to use underground fresh Water source by drilling a well.
5.) It is ILLOGICAL to build ( Steam Cat ) on the LR.

It means wasting more piping materials and riskier in terms of
damaging the ( EMAL Cat supporting equipments ).
Why ?
All the much more complex supporting equipments ( Steam / Water pipings ) have to go around the EMAL supporting materials on the RR. -- When the ( Ultra High Pressure Steam piping ) is leaking and piping is bursting it can damaged the ( EMAL Cat supporting equipments on the RR).

Thus, it is more likely CV-002 or CV-18 will be equipped with EMAL Cat,
because EMAL cat and J-15A are ready for service by end of 2017.

 

[fatfreddy]

Courtesy of ZRZY @ PDF

Top catapult should be steam cat.
Bottom catapult should be EM cat.
Reason is here, quoted from:






View attachment 33952

Thats some very insightful and incredible reasoning but I buy it!

 

[Blitzo]

Courtesy of ZRZY @ PDF

Top catapult should be steam cat.
Bottom catapult should be EM cat.
Reason is here, quoted from:






View attachment 33952

It could be plausible that the catapult closer to the ocean is the steam cat and the one more inland is the EM cat, although that would go against the previous consensus.

However, ZRZY's statement about the photo of J-15 being behind what he believes to be the EM cat thus suggesting CV-18/002 unit 1 would use EM cat is illogical, because that one photo and the rumours of the successful EM test doesn't tell us anything about the actual state of the readiness of the two catapults at Huangdicun not to mention it is just way too early to even have the Navy finish assessing which catapult they will go for anyway.