PLAN Carrier Strike Group and Airwing

Re: Aircraft Carriers II

asif iqbal said:

Omg look at the comparison ours is so much better than yours!

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Looks can be deceiving...and looks is all you are talking about here at this stage.

Popeye's explanation, by those who are involved, explained that part.

But we both know, in terms of actual operational capability, which one both of us would rather have serving in our navies.

The Queen Elizabeth class are exceptional vessels, and exceptional designs. Unfortunately, politicians hamstrung her capabilities by insisting on the STOBAR design instead of the CATOBAR. Even if she had gotten the CATOBAR, however, in terms of operational capability, she would have been inferior to the Ford Class.

But, in either case, she will be one heck of a very appreciated and very well anticipated compliment and ally.

Her CSG with the Darings, Dukes and Astutes, will be better than any adversary we will face together.

...and yes, I know you were just poking fun. Hehehe, but it was a good question and did provide for some really good information with Popeye's quotes.

Re: Aircraft Carriers II

asif iqbal said:

Thanks for the explaining the appearance for the new carrier bd Popeye, I was just poking fun!

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Thanks. No problem!..Thanks for your great posting.

To most observers the Ford looks a mess . But in reality she's coming along fine.

Re: Aircraft Carriers II

bd popeye said:

They look very organized. a well oiled machine. But...When they build 10 QE CVs then we can make a comparison..or if they ever build a nuclear carrier..let's see how that goes.

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Newport News shipbuilding has been around for over 125 years.

They have built every single American nuclear carrier. The Enterprise and all ten Nimitz, and now the Ford class. Ford will make 12 nuclear carriers they have built in the last 53 years.

But that is not all, since World War II, Newport News also constructed the USS Midway, Coral Sea, Forrestal, Ranger, America, and John F. Kennedy. That's six more large US Navy carriers since that time for a total of 18 built since 1945 by them alone (New York, Philidelphia and Mass built more), or in 68 years...on average one new aircraft carrier from Newport News in less than four years each since 1945.

Re: Aircraft Carriers II

The X-47B is aboard the USS George H W Bush (CVN 77) for testing, including catapult launches.

NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) Naval Facilities Engineering Command personnel prepare to load an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is scheduled to be the first aircraft carrier to catapult-launch an unmanned aircraft. George H.W. Bush is preparing to conduct training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)

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NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is loaded onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua P. Card/Released)

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NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is loaded onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tony D. Curtis/Released)

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NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is loaded onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua P. Card/Released)

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(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tony D. Curtis/Released)

NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) Sailors move an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator from a lowered aircraft elevator aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)

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NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) Sailors move an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is scheduled to be the first aircraft carrier to catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. George H.W. Bush is preparing to conduct training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)

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Queen Elizabeth Aft Island leaves fabrication, sponsons Lifted

The Aft Island of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier left the fabrication facility this week. In addition, two more sponsons have been lifted onto the hull, completing the flight deck back to the aft elevator on both sides.


Significant progress being made.

Re: Aircraft Carriers II



Fedex delivery guy: "Uh, I have a package for the US Navy, could you get me someone to sign this off for me?"

Re: Aircraft Carriers II

Equation said:

Fedex delivery guy: "Uh, I have a package for the US Navy, could you get me someone to sign this off for me?"

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Yeah, it looks like a boom-erang, a boom a what, a boom-erang, gee I hope they don't try to land this thing on the BUSH, I hope they pick a second stringer for recovery, prolly be like some of my aeronautical contraptions, ZINGGGG----SPLASH! whoooops! sorry I'm not a Droner,,,,,,,these are bbbaaaaaddddd! Brat

Re: Aircraft Carriers II

Air Force Brat said:

Yeah, it looks like a boom-erang, a boom a what, a boom-erang, gee I hope they don't try to land this thing on the BUSH, I hope they pick a second stringer for recovery, prolly be like some of my aeronautical contraptions, ZINGGGG----SPLASH! whoooops! sorry I'm not a Droner,,,,,,,these are bbbaaaaaddddd! Brat

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The Bush is the deck. They will be performing the first take-offs and landings off of the Bush.

And...I bet they work just fine, both cats and traps.

Now, they are not meant to mix it up in the air. They are meant to be low observable and do recon and strike targets of opportunity while doing so. Or, in conditions where we enjoy air dominance to supply an over watch/ground support or special strike missions like the Reapers do now.

This will give the Naval Air Arm some extra flexibility for patrols, recon, and low level sea control.

Ultimately, you may see them going in with the Superhornets on strike missions, where a single F/A-18F controls two or three of these babies for strike missions...but that's a ways out yet.

Re: Aircraft Carriers II

I've seen the mock-up of the X-47B with foled wings but not the real deal.

Someone I know aboard the USS Harry S Truman stated this about the X-47B.

Originally Posted by bd popeye

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The X-47B will be aboard the HST next month for catapult launches. get your camera ready wicked_hind!!

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wicked_hind said:

Actually, the X-47 is going with CVN-77, which is fine by me. That thing is a pain in the ass to get in the hangar bay.

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Re: Aircraft Carriers II

bd popeye said:

I've seen the mock-up of the X-47B with foled wings but not the real deal.

Someone I know aboard the USS Harry S Truman stated this about the X-47B.

WICKED_HIND said:

Actually, the X-47 is going with CVN-77, which is fine by me. That thing is a pain in the ass to get in the hangar bay.

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I hate to hear this.

It should not be so. They know the dimensions of the hanger bay and the openings and height, etc. and this thing was supposed to be designed to operate there.

Hopefully, since this is a prototype, they will take the input back and the correct dimensions and any "fit" issues will be made right in the production builds. I know it's wings fold, but you would think they would have had this figured out. They have built aircraft for the US Navy before.
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