Navy launches first aircraft using EMALS

LAKEHURST, N.J. (Dec. 18, 2010) The Navy launches the first aircraft, an F/A-18E Super Hornet, from the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) at Naval Air Systems Command, Lakehurst, N.J. The Navy has used steam catapults for more than 50 years to launch aircraft from aircraft carriers. EMALS is a complete carrier-based launch system designed for Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and future Ford-class carriers. Newer, heavier and faster aircraft will result in launch energy requirements approaching the limits of the steam catapult, increasing maintenance on the system. The system's technology allows for a smooth acceleration at both high and low speeds, increasing the carrier's ability to launch aircraft in support of the warfighter. EMALS will provide the capability for launching all current and future carrier air wing platforms from lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles to heavy strike fighters. The first ship components are on schedule to be delivered to CVN 78 in 2011. (U.S. Navy video/Released)

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  Science & Technology

[Giants2082]

hate to break it to you, but a great deal of technological innovations used in the civilian world to boost the future economy come from military inventions such as this.

[XKS99]

You people in China think our discussions and disagreements are a weakness but could not be more wrong. It's true we're not as homogeneous as you, the Japanese or Scandinavians, but make no mistake, that is a strength, not a weakness.

[Henry Lindblom]

they're only military inventions in the first place because they get all the money.

[deathmoneyyy]

first comment: makes a case for china

second comment: insults china

makes sense.

[davetileguy]

WOW thats a big carrier ther's even trees in the background ! LOL

[Markx12F]

destroy the launch system?

[tmc359]

Someone who knows please answer me this question: I understand besides the USMC using the F35STVOL, many foreign countries such as Japan and in particular Taiwan wants the F35 because they are afraid that China with ICBM's will destroy their runways. The solution seems so simple, just install launch systems (steam or otherwise) and they can accomplish the same thing, and much cheaper than a fleet of F35's. What am I missing?

[Sparksjet]

Its going to be weird with a bird launching without the sound of the entire front end of the ship falling apart.

[1966thinlizzy]

For you guys thinking this is a gov't innovation, think again....the gov't CONTRACTS this work out to the civilian sector. Yes, the corporations will use this tech in the civilian sector making our lives better. This isn't news, but apparently a generation of retards are being raised to think that gov't is their master.

[Jordan Boothe]

Behold, the worlds most powerful kitchen magnet

[MrUdell22]

wrong! rockets are needed for the massive payload they carry and they're going into space! Not the "air" or stratosphere, if your trying to go somewhere do u go to it in a roundabout way? or do u go straight to it? I think the geniuses at NASA could have figured out that simple common sense.

[MK1Panzer]

All they have to do is scale this up and they could launch space craft into space without the use of rocket engines.