US Nimitz Class Carriers: News, Pics, INfo

Take a look at this and realize what this represents. Three full Carrier strike Groups operating together. A potential for almost 300 aircraft right there, though in 2006 each carrier probably had on the order of 70 aircraft, or just over 200 altogether. Still....something any naval enthusiast would find very interesting.


Philippine Sea - USS Ronald Reagan, CVN-76 and USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 Carrier Strike groups, break away while the USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63 Carrier Strike group sails ahead following during Exercise Valiant Shield 2006. That regular exercise which focuses on integrated joint training among U.S. military forces, enabling real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces and in detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas.

USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) performed dual carrier flight operations on the occasion and demonstrated their skills in operating multiple carrier strike groups in close proximity. The strike groups conducted air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long range strikes, coordinated maneuvers and other exercises.

Watch this video:


.Oh man...on March 18, 2016, this pilot does a heck of a job and saved several lives (usually five personnel man this aircraft) and saved a VERY expensive aircraft (...like $175 million each) when the arresting cable on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower snapped as he landed.

Eight sailors suffered non-life threatening injuries on deck as they tried to get out of the way of the cable when it snapped, and the aircraft continues and goes off the end of the carrier.

But having applied full military thrust pulls up before plowing into the ocean.

The official Navy Report lauds the “phenomenal airmanship” by the Hawkeye’s pilot and crew. They train for these type of incidents, but when they occur, oft times it ends badly.

As reported by the Navy, the investigation found that Human error and improper maintenance were blamed for the mishap because maintenance personnel missed “critical steps” while working on an arresting gear engine.

The E-2 Hawkeye is the Navy’s all-weather, carrier-based tactical battle management airborne early warning, command and control aircraft. The E-2 is a twin engine, five crewmember, high-wing turboprop aircraft with a 24-foot diameter radar rotodome attached to the upper fuselage.