PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)

While we continue to wait for more detail l info on the current build...here are some nice pictures of the Liaoning, CV-16 to enjoy:

Liaoning, CV-16, head-on (I really love this pic...suitable for desktop background):


Liaoning, CV-16, in harbor:


Liaoning, CV-16, at Sanya:

Liaoning, CV-16, at Dalian:


Liaoning, CV-16 overhead view of the vessel:


I still anxiously await the Liaoning operating with a deck load of aircraft.

To date, the most we have see operating at once is five. But they are making steady progress.

Here's that one blurry photo with five J-15s at once. we have seen several much clearer with four.

Now...for more eye-candy of a sort, here are some pics where I laid out my 1/350 scale model of the Liaoning, CV-16, next to my 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65. The boss only let me occupy the dinner table for so long. LOL!










I had 36 total aircraft spotted on the Enterprise deck and elevators, and another ten aircraft in the hanger.

I have 22 aircraft spotted on the Liaoning deck and elevators, and another four in the hanger.

First pic really shows the difference in spot-able deck area. Especially since Liaoning's bows cannot be utilized due to the ski ramp.

no_name said:

First pic really shows the difference in spot-able deck area. Especially since Liaoning's bows cannot be utilized due to the ski ramp.

Click to expand...

Yep.

Of the 14 additional aircraft spotted on the Enterprise deck...eight of them come from right there on the bow.

But the overall width differences between the two has a significant impact on the number of aircraft that can be spotted too.

I have to say, of pictures just of the carrier itself without the airwing, this is one of my top three pictures of the Liaoning to date:

Comparing both models, the Enterprise's island is by no means "small". It's only "small" relative to the overall size of the carrier. While Liaoning's island is indeed longer, it's also much narrower. Enterprise's structure seems taller as well.

Shaolian said:

Comparing both models, the Enterprise's island is by no means "small". While Liaoning's island is indeed longer, it's also much narrower. Enterprise's structure seems taller as well.

Click to expand...

In terms of the amount of real estate it takes up, the Enteerprise island takes up far less space in terms of square footage.

it becomes particularly critical when you compare the overall area of the flight deck to the percentage the island occupies on each carrier.

Yes, the Enterprise island a couple of stories above the flight deck does widen out more...but for a much shorter length. This picture shows that length difference well.



The real estate on the Liaoning deck is at a much higher premium because the overall deck is quite a bit shorter...a LOT shorter when you take away the ski-jump...and it is also not nearly as wide overall.

Anyhow, the island on the Enterprise was a one-off in any case. it was the only one like it...and the enterprise is now decommissioned. The Nimitz class is not as large...and the Ford class has an even smaller footprint.

Shaolian said:

Comparing both models, the Enterprise's island is by no means "small". It's only "small" relative to the overall size of the carrier. While Liaoning's island is indeed longer, it's also much narrower. Enterprise's structure seems taller as well.

Click to expand...

Liaoning's island can be made further smaller if she was nuclear powered like the Enterprise was.

Jeff Head said:

In terms of the amount of real estate it takes up, the Enteerprise island takes up far less space in terms of square footage.

it becomes particularly critical when you compare the overall area of the flight deck to the percentage the island occupies on each carrier.

Yes, the Enterprise island a couple of stories above the flight deck does widen out more...but for a much shorter length. This picture shows that length difference well.

The real estate on the Liaoning deck is at a much higher premium because the overall deck is quite a bit shorter...a LOT shorter when you take away the ski-jump...and it is also not nearly as wide overall.

Click to expand...

Yes, it seems that Enterprise's (and subsequent USN carriers') island design is such that it maximises available useful floor space while keeping it's deck footprint as small as possible. To my layman eyes, its "observation deck", that is the floor with the most windows (haha, what am I taliking about) looks to be much higher than Liaoning's as well. I would think this gives it much better awareness of deck operations.

I wonder if the PLAN's next carrier would incorporate many of such design cues. This however, may be limited by the overall structure design of the new carrier. Perhaps we'll only see a truly "modern" design when they finally unveil their nuclear carriers.