Posted on 05/20/2015 9:33:27 AM PDT by Rio
The Navy conducted the first-ever, shipboard, full-speed catapult shots using the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) aboard the aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Naval Sea Systems Command announced May 15.
The aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the James River during the ship's launch and transit to Newport News Shipyard pier three for the final stages of construction and testing. Ford was christened Nov. 9, 2013, and is under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipyard. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Aidan P. Campbell/Released)The aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the James River during the ship's launch and transit to Newport News Shipyard pier three for the final stages of construction and testing. Ford was christened Nov. 9, 2013, and is under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipyard. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Aidan P. Campbell/Released)
EMALS is a carrier-based launch system designed to expand the operational capability of the Navy's future carriers to include all current and future planned carrier aircraft. The recent test shots, known as "no-loads" because no aircraft or other loads were attached to the launching shuttle, successfully demonstrated the integrated catapult system. Using electromagnetic technology, the system delivers substantial improvements in system maintenance, increased reliability and efficiency, higher-launch energy capacity, and more accurate end-speed control, with a smooth acceleration at both high and low speeds. By allowing linear acceleration over time, electromagnetic catapults also place less stress on the aircraft.
"This is a very exciting time for the Navy," said Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers Rear Adm. Tom Moore. "For the first time in over 60 years, we've just conducted 22 no load test shots using electricity instead of steam technology."
During the tests, generators within the ship produced an electric pulse, which was passed through power conditioning electronics to linear motors just below the flight deck surface. This energy allowed for the linear motors to propel the launching shuttle down the catapult track in excess of 180 knots before bringing the shuttle to a stop at the end of the track.
The next phase of EMALS testing, scheduled for this summer, will involve launching "dead-loads" off of the bow of CVN 78 into the James River. "Dead-loads" are large, wheeled, steel vessels weighing up to 80,000 pounds to simulate the weight of actual aircraft. The dead-loads will be launched from each catapult using a specific test sequence to verify that the catapult and its components are operating satisfactorily.
To date PCU Gerald R. Ford is 90 percent complete and 1550 Sailors have reported for introduction and training. CVN 78 will be commissioned in March 2016.
Which puts a lot of stress on the aircraft. This new system looks to eliminate that by a smoother, linear acceleration over time. Essentially, top speed coming a bit later than right f'in now.
The key, as you say, will be dependability.
It was probably Marketing hog wash, but I believed it.
So does electricity. That's why it's used for the drive wheels of locomotives.
ow will it affectimplanted pacemakers?
I don’t fully agree with that. Electric motor and coil applications have hysteresis.. as some have suggested, that might actually be beneficial (vs steam) in the case of an aircraft carrier catapult. I could see that.
In trains, the reaction time of the motors is not only not that important, but each axle or truck can be powered with a smaller, individual motor/geartrain that is much easier to reverse and speed-control than with a bell-crank or *any* mechanical arrangement, and the same motors can generate dynamic braking. They are also dozens of times easier to maintain.
That isn’t confirmed by anybody, outside of SOME Russian Media.
We do know that the Navy hasn’t said yeah or nay about it, although they did complain about being over-flown by Russian aircraft. If it really did happen, we won’t know about it for 50 years.
That would have been true of steam as well?
Seems if claims of more linear acceleration for EMALS is true, it is closer to being capable of lauch without damage.
I didn’t think of that but probably not in a good way.
The steam systems are messy, require a lot of maintenance, etc. Just the steam leaking out combined with all the grease gets all over the place.
Steam shots have a lot of power at the beginning of the stroke. I thought EMALS was supposed to be a smoother acceleration. No way the Navy can operate without external tanks. Can’t be done.
http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/pentagon-protests-russian-jets-buzzing-antimissile-warship-black-sea/
http://www.voltairenet.org/article185860.html
http://teapartyeconomist.com/2014/11/13/russian-plane-zaps-u-s-warships-missile-defense-system/
That was my point. Maybe they launch with empty tanks to minimize stress and then tank up to fill? Not a carrier guy, dunno about their flight ops.
If that happened then I assume the fact that you had a steam catapault wouldn't make any difference. If the electronics are fried in the ship and the airplanes then there isn't anything to launch anyway.
And why electric cars accelerate so well
This is an extremely dangerous and troubling incident. Almost as troubling is the news blackout of its occurrence.
We live in very dangerous times.
So I’m guessing that mean less guys to support catapult ops now?
So a full fuel pod weighs more than a rack 500 pound bombs?
Uh no.
Well, hopefully you won’t need guys schlepping barrels of grease around. The thing about most of the flight deck divisions is that you have a fight ops component to your job, and a division maintenance component to your job. Even with less maintenance you still need enough guys to run the cat and button it up (fast) when the last bird gets launched.
The drops on the F-18 E/F are 3k.
Not enough gas airborne to do that. Gotta have a full bag to go. Drops have to be dry to trap.
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