PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Through the month of November, 10 On Your Side is giving you a glimpse into life with the US Navy. This week’s story takes us onboard USS Gerald R. Ford — the newest and most advanced carrier in the Navy’s inventory.
The Ford was commissioned in 2017 — and recently completed it’s first deployment of 262 days for a sail length of 83,478 nautical miles. Now, the crew is re-certifying and getting ready for their next deployment with training exercises off our coastline.
We met up with the Ford off the coast of North Carolina, after boarding a C-2 Greyhound assigned to VRC-40 at Naval Station Norfolk/Chambers Field. The C-2, or COD, is used for Carrier onboard Delivery, delivering cargo, mail, supplies and people to the ship when it’s underway.
Our flight took us down the N.C. coast and offshore of Cape Hatteras, where the Ford was operating for the day. As we approached the ship, the C-2 crew banked hard left, executing a carrier break to get us into the traffic pattern. From there, it was time to land, or TRAP — catching one of the three wires stretched across the deck with the tailhook on the back of the aircraft — going from 100 knots to zero in just a matter of seconds.
The trap system, or arresting gear, is something that is improved on the Ford compared to the Nimitz class carriers like the George Washington and the Lincoln. To land, pilots catch one of the three arresting cables stretched across the deck. The Ford is equipped with Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), allowing for less maintenance and manpower to operate. AAG is a modular, integrated system consisting of energy absorbers, power conditioning equipment and digital controls.
Previous Nimitz class carriers used steam catapults to get airplanes airborne. On the Ford, electro-magnetic catapults similar to those that help propel a roller coaster are used to launch Super Hornets, Hawkeyes and Greyhounds into the air from zero to over 100 knots in mere seconds. The Navy says that the EMALS system is designed to “expand the operational capability of Ford-class carriers, providing the Navy with capability for launching all current and future carrier air wing platforms – lightweight unmanned to heavy strike fighters.”.
Both of these capabilities allow the Ford to see a 25% increase in flights over the Nimitz class.
The Ford also has two hangar bays compared to 3 on a Nimitz Class carrier. The bays are larger, which allows them to hold more aircraft.
Of course, while technology upgrades are great, it’s the people on the ship that really make things happen. In Air Ops, they watch all that goes on, making sure things are getting done safely and efficiently. If a plane needs fuel, or maintenance needs to be done, they’re notified and the proper personnel is dispatched. During flight operations, there’s also damage control (firefighters) on standby in case of a mishap.