3rd Elevator Installed on USS Gerald R. Ford
Posted on 08/17/2013 9:40:39 AM PDT by Jeff Head
Third (and final) Elevator Installed on USS Gerald R. Ford, CVN-79
World Maritime News
Newport News, Virginia
Huntington Ingalls Industries:
Huntington Ingalls announced yesterday that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division installed the third and final aircraft elevator on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).
The elevator, which is used to move aircraft from the hangar bay to the flight deck quickly and safely, is located on the starboard side of the ship. It measures 85 feet long and 52 feet wide and weighs 120 tons, akin to a steam locomotive.
“The Ford class is designed with three aircraft elevators, one less than the Nimitz class,” said Rolf Bartschi, NNS vice president, CVN 78 carrier construction. “The design provides greater flight deck area for increased sortie rates over the Nimitz-class design. The location and number of aircraft elevators are an integral part of the design.”
Gerald R. Ford’s primary hull structure reached 100 percent structural completion in May, bringing more than three years of structural erection work to a close. Work continues on the ship, including work on the piping and electrical systems and habitability areas such as the galley and mess spaces. Shipbuilders are also in the process of painting the hull prior to the ship’s christening, scheduled for Nov. 9[/I>
Christening will be on November 9th! That date is going to come quickly now.
IIRC it uses a pole for motive power...(or is that poll?)
It is true that the Secretary of the Navy has the power to change the names.
And it is true that the Clinton administration 20 years ago did as you say, and 35+ years before that it happened with the Coral Sea.
However, I will be willing to state right here and now, that even if they thought about doing it with another vessel, they will not get consider doing it with the name Enterprise.
1st, a GOP administration would not consider it. 2nd, a DNC administration will not undo what Obama set in place.
Finally, the name itself and the way it came about over the last two carriers (and now this third) will be too politically charged. If they want to make a stupid name, they will do so with some other vessel...not, IMHO, the Enterprise.
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