vikingman Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 (edited) http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2017/07/mil-170720-dod01.htm http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=101551 Navy to Commission New First-In-Class Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford The Navy will commission its newest aircraft carrier, the future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, July 22, at Naval Station Norfolk. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carrier, the first new class in more than 40 years, and will begin the phased replacement of Nimitz-class carriers when the ship is commissioned. CVN 78 honors the 38th president of the United States and pays tribute to his lifetime of service in the Navy, in the U.S. government and to the nation. During World War II, Ford attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy, serving on the light carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26). Released from active duty in February 1946, Ford remained in the Naval Reserve until 1963. Ford was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948, where he served until President Nixon tapped him to become Vice President in 1973. Ford became president in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and served in the country's highest office from 1974-1977. President Donald J. Trump will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Susan Ford Bales, President Ford's daughter, serves as the ship's sponsor. "The nation's going to be very proud of USS Gerald R. Ford," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. "I am incredibly thankful for the shipyard workers and sailors who worked amazingly hard to bring this mighty ship to life. This Saturday will be a huge day for our Navy and our nation. The new technology and warfighting capabilities that Ford brings will transform naval warfare, making us a more lethal Navy. The increased combat power will enable new ways to combine information, ships, aircraft and undersea forces, changing how we operate and fight." The Navy plans to spend $43 billion developing and building the three new Ford-class ships–Ford, the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), and the future USS Enterprise (CVN 80). Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, the Gerald R. Ford class is designed with significant quality-of-life improvements and reduced maintenance. These innovations are expected to improve operational availability and capability compared with Nimitz-class carriers. The Gerald R. Ford class incorporates advances in technology such as a new reactor plant, propulsion system, electric plant, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), machinery control, Dual Band Radar and integrated warfare systems. Compared to Nimitz-class carriers, the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers have more than 23 new or modified systems. The ceremony can be viewed on the Navy Live blog at http://navylive.dodlive.mil Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/g/gerald-r-ford.html Learn more about the naval service and life of Gerald Ford here: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/presidents/ford.html Edited July 21, 2017 by vikingman Addition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingman Posted August 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2017 USS Gerald R Ford launches first aircraft using electromagnetic catapult http://newatlas.com/uss-ford-electromagnetic-catapult-aag/50695/ The USS Gerald R Ford scored a double first less than a week after commissioning, as the nuclear-powered supercarrier launched and recovered a fighter plane for the first time using an electromagnetic catapult. On July 28, an F/A-18F Super Hornet piloted by Commander Jamie Struck was launched from the flight deck by the ElectroMAgnetic Launch System (EMALS) shortly after arrival, when it made the first arrested landing with the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system. At first sight, the landing and takeoff of the Super Hornet on the Ford looked as conventional as any other touchdown and launch, but the superficial similarity hid technology that had never been used at sea before. For over 60 years, aircraft carriers around the world have launched fixed-wing aircraft using steam catapults, wherein a head of live steam blasted a piston down a slot in the flight deck that dragged the airplane along and hurled it into the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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