The article shows F-35s. Looks like they will still have the skateboard ramp at the end of the launch ramp.
The “ski-jump” feature helps their VTOL aircraft get airborne. Apparently it takes less thrust to take off horizontally than vertically, so they can carry more fuel and weapons. With bomb bays empty and fuel tanks nearly dry, they may land vertically.
Ok, so I looked at the skateboard ramp. Looks about 10 feet high. So the difference is the the plane will leave the deck ten feet higher off the water than a plane leaving a flat surface. So what? Seems that going up the ramp would slow the plane down a bit. I don’t get the purpose of the ramp.
Ok, so I looked at the skateboard ramp. Looks about 10 feet high. So the difference is the the plane will leave the deck ten feet higher off the water than a plane leaving a flat surface. So what? Seems that going up the ramp would slow the plane down a bit. I don’t get the purpose of the ramp.