Ford heads to sea

The USS Gerald Ford departed Newport News, heading to sea for the first time. Once at the exercise location, she will begin builders trials. These are the first set of trials before the Navy accepts and commissions her.

She'll spend the next couple weeks at sea, with representatives from the crew, shipyard, and builders on board. They'll test her vital systems and put her through the wringer looking for any problems in her systems.

wtkr.com...

wavy.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

I wonder if its fibre optics and emp protected one would hope so

a reply to: khnum

All military equipment is. It's part of the acceptance trials.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I think refitting the carriers a while back was to address some weaknesses in that area,the US sure has spent some money on carriers recently.

a reply to: khnum

Most of them are 30 years old, and still had original equipment.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Interesting that the F18 is still a major part of the aircraft complement will the F35's be STOL/VTOL and will there be a F35 Growler equivalent?

a reply to: khnum

The Navy version isn't STOVL. There's no Growler version planned.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Glad they got done with this super carrier, did the final price come to the 30% overrun or did it end up being more?

a reply to: seasonal

No, it's slightly under 30%. They're making changes to Kennedy and Enterprise to keep their costs down based on this build.

ding ding. Underway.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I read they are going to do 2 more of this class of super carrier, is that the count that is still being stuck to?

a reply to: seasonal

They're going to do more than that. They've ordered two more, and Kennedy is about 25% done already. The first three are Ford, Kennedy, and Enterprise. Kennedy is building, Enterprise has ordered the long lead items, but won't start construction for a couple years.

I think the two most important questions are being overlooked here.

Firstly when is Harrison Ford heading out to sea? And second, will Shatner be too old to play commander of the new Enterprise when she finally commissions?

Seriously though I would love to see a Ford class named after FDR. He certainly earned the right more than most of the later Presidential names that have been applied.

As an unexpected bonus trial, the Ford was called upon to provide a medevac for an injured sailor on the USS Oak Hill. Ford launched one of her embarked MH-60S helicopters who picked up the sailor and transported him to a shore facility for treatment.

Ford has returned to port after successfully completing builders trials. Next up will be acceptance trials by the Navy.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Its huge; a floating death star!

a reply to: TonyS

It's pretty close to a Nimitz in size. The Nimitz displaces slightly more, but the Ford is slightly longer and a couple feet wider.

It's a floating hotel.....

I remember many times doing refuel at see with carriers, and while us real sailors were getting tossed around on our destroyer, those airdales were up on the flight deck with a cup of coffee laughing their heads off at us, not spilling a drop.

Pppppppt!

nns.huntingtoningalls.com...

a reply to: eriktheawful

Depending when, I might have been one of them. Unless I was part of the Alert 5 helo crew, then I was probably sleeping.

I wonder when the Ford gets her shock test? I was on the Forrestal for hers in 1985. Definitely not a good time.