update on CVN 78 construction

[Mr Quatro]

It won't be long now ... I bet the sailors down below can't even tell the difference of being pier side or at sea, due to being so big.

http://thediplomat.com/2017/04/us-na...sea-this-week/

The U.S. Navy’s long-delayed nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) will take to the sea for builder’s trials this week, the commander of U.S. Naval Systems Command, Vice Admiral Tom Moore, said on April 3, according to USNI News.

The carrier is slated to depart Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Newport News, Virginia tomorrow, weather permitting. The USS Gerald R. Ford remains moored pier-side as of today.

[Delgard]

I was on the Midway back in the day and there was a two-lane bowling alley. Surprised the heck of me since I was not in the Navy, but the Captain wanted one, so he got one.

[Mr Quatro]

The USS Ford is now all ours ... at 12.9 billion dollars I hope it's still under warranty.

Construction of the Ford was supposed to finish by September 2015. The $12.9 billion ship was initially supposed to cost $10.5 billion.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/navy-gets...154746036.html

FOLK, Va. (AP) — The first of a new class of aircraft carriers has been officially delivered to the U.S. Navy after more than a year of delays, cost overruns and technological glitches that drew criticism from President Donald Trump.

The Navy said Thursday that the USS Gerald R. Ford will now go through various workups at sea before becoming operational in 2020. The Navy plans to build at least two more Ford-Class carriers, according to the Congressional Research Service.

[Mr Quatro]

She's in the Navy now: https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/201...1761500647172/

July 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy is commissioning the new aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford into service today at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.

President Donald J. Trump will deliver the ceremony's principal address on Saturday's commissioning ceremony. A White House live stream will start at 10:10 a.m.

"The nation's going to be very proud of USS Gerald R. Ford,"

"This Saturday will be a huge day for our Navy and our nation. The new technology and war fighting capabilities that Ford brings will transform naval warfare, making us a more lethal Navy".

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

She's in the Navy now: https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/201...1761500647172/

President Donald J. Trump will deliver the ceremony's principal address on Saturday's commissioning ceremony. A White House live stream will start at 10:10 a.m.

Trump should have walked up there and said I don't like the name lets rename her Enterprise, and don't ever let me catch you trying to name one "Donald J. Trump".

[Mr Quatro]

Probably will be tested in a war someday ... glad it works

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, successfully launched and landed an aircraft with advanced digital, magnetic technolgy, which replaces the older steam-driven catapult system.

The succesful missions Friday came less than a week after President Trump commissioned the nearly $13 billion ship in Virginia.

"Today, USS Gerald R. Ford made history," said Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces. "Great work by the Ford team and all the engineers who have worked hard to get the ship ready for this milestone."

Trump suggested last spring that the Navy continue to use the steam-based catapult system to launch and snag aircraft on and off ships’ flight decks, amid the contiuned concerns about the cost to complete the USS Ford.

Prior to Friday’s missions, the new technology had been successfully tested ashore at Lakehurst, N.J., according to the Navy.

“This is the first shipboard recovery and launch of a fleet fixed wing aircraft,” said Capt. Rick McCormack, Ford’s commanding officer.

The aircraft used was A-18F Superhornet fighter jets, based at the naval base at Patuxent River, Md.

[em2nought]

"tested ashore at Lakehurst, N.J." Well if something was going to go wrong with the catapult, that's definitely the place for it to happen i guess.