[MarkL]

I just saw a show about the Gerald R. Ford. It's going to be the first US carrier to use electromagnetic catapults for aircraft launches. Unfortunately it's at least 7 months behind schedule (at the time of the filming), and if things don't work out, there's really no way to retrofit the ship with steam powered catapults.

On the good side, though, they did have successful test launches of an F-18 from the test facility.

Mark

[Drew68]

On the good side, though, they did have successful test launches of an F-18 from the test facility.

I'll be happy if the toilets work.

[John S Mosby]

Leads me to wonder- is there a back up to steam catapults? Can’t have electro anything if there is a system failure, and it presumes no power generation problems, conventional or otherwise.

Principle is like the rail gun for the electro mag cat shots.