PLAN Carrier Construction

ladioussupp said:

China catapult test field. No runway is shown. So the tests may not involve real aircraft.

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Assuming the object to the right of the second building on the left is a truck that can be used for scale, then this track seems far too long to me for a carrier catapult.

I would guess it is a rocket sled test track of some kind.

Has anyone made a comparison between this facility and the catapults at Lakehurst on the same scale (on Google Map)? Not conclusive, but perhaps that might give us some indication of its size?

Jovian said:

Has anyone made a comparison between this facility and the catapults at Lakehurst on the same scale (on Google Map)? Not conclusive, but perhaps that might give us some indication of its size?

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I don't know how to do that but here's what the test cats at Lakehurst NJ look like.

I take back what I said.

These catapult test tracks all seem much longer than actual carrier catapults.

chuck731 said:

I take back what I said.

These catapult test tracks all seem much longer than actual carrier catapults.

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do you think they may be EMALS then?

chuck731 said:

I take back what I said.

These catapult test tracks all seem much longer than actual carrier catapults.

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which ones are your refering to Chuck? The ones in Lakehurst are actual cats.

bd popeye said:

which ones are your refering to Chuck? The ones in Lakehurst are actual cats.

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Each of the 3 linear features at Lakehurst is much longer than a carrier catapult, using the cars in the photo for scale. The actual catapult may make up only part of the linear feature.

chuck731 said:

Each of the 3 linear features at Lakehurst is much longer a carrier catapult, using the cars in the photo for scale. The actual catapult may make up only part of the linear feature.

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You are correct. The rest of the structures is for "run off" when the catapults are used to "launch" non flying loads.

bd popeye said:

You are correct. The rest of the structures is for "run off" when the catapults are used to "launch" non flying loads.

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Does that mean that the facility we seen in china could be a catapult facility?

kroko said:

Does that mean that the facility we seen in china could be a catapult facility?

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I thinkl it very well could be. It makes sense for the PLAN to develop a catapault system...heck, they simply have to be working on one IMHO, given where they are going with their carrier program. So the picture definitely could be that.

On the other hand, it could also simply be high speed test track for the PLAAF like the US Air Force has at bases in New Mexico and California, specifically at Holloman AFB in Alamorgordo, NM (which is a ten mile track), but for many of the tests, that length is not necessary. For example, such tracks are used commonly to test ejection seats.