Looks like they have the EMALS system working at least at a basic level. Someone's comment on the video is below, and from what I can see, he's right:
"First thing i notice straight away is at the moment the aircraft starts moving the EMALS is more gentle with the aircraft than a steam catapult, it doesn't yank the aircraft forward like a bully wanting it's lunch money. That's going to help increase part life on the aircraft. The other thing i notice is that despite not being as hard on the plane it appears to get it up to a higher speed. The climb out of that f-18 at 1:34 looks much stronger and cleaner than the climb out of an F-18 from a steam catapult. Sometimes from a steam cat you'll see the aircraft drop a few feet and or dip a wing after launch, not here. However i'd want to hear from the pilots themselves what they think of it."
Interesting jump on that E-2 as she went off the deck - nice climb
I’m sure everyone involved is very happy it appears its starting to be a working system. This one has been very hard to get working.
It not about the EMALS working its about the sortie rate which cannot be sustained to date. And then there is the elevators not working issue, the radar not working issue, etc
Missing from that list: The F-35C
The Navy's New Aircraft Carrier Won't Have Stealth F-35s
How can that be?
Before you guys get off on other subjects, I’d like to point out that the pilots of these airplanes were having more fun than we are.
HST, carrier landings are the most fun I have ever had with my clothes on!
“First thing i notice straight away is at the moment the aircraft starts moving the EMALS is more gentle with the aircraft than a steam catapult, it doesn’t yank the aircraft forward like a bully wanting it’s lunch money.”
This is supposed to be a big selling point. The planes might last a LOT longer or could be built to save a lot of weight.
First thing i notice straight away is at the moment the aircraft starts moving the EMALS is more gentle with the aircraft than a steam catapult, it doesn’t yank the aircraft forward like a bully wanting it’s lunch money.
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With electromagnetic launch, acceleration is controllable and it can be ramped up from a more gentle start than a steam catapult. Conversely, a conventional steam catapult expends its most force at the start and then loses velocity during runout; the exact opposite of what is needed.
I had a sailor who worked on it tell me they can switch between different types of a/c much faster too.
I bet those naval aviators have a moment of trepidation when that softer accel begins thinking (for a split second) that they’re going in the drink.
But yes, the whole point of EMALS is to extend the life of the airframes and to allow more varied load-outs.
Also the lack of steam on the flight deck.
Looks much safer in many aspects
You have not had a catapult launch until you have had a hydraulic catapult launch!
Steam catapult launches are SWEEET! First one I had I thought I had a cold (i.e. low pressure) cat shot!
If EMALS is softer than steam, it may be a nice ride!
I guardamtee you that a night cat shot on a hydraulic cat is BETTER THAN an “E” ticket ride at Disneyland!
It is a “High Pucker” event that takes your breath, vision and senses away! YABBADABBADO!
And then you gotta recover and fly the damn plane!
I was gonna come back in and call bullshit because the first plane to catapult steam came from the catapult track... but later launches there was no steam so its all good!!