Carrier

Copilot:

 How is launching a fighter jet from a nuclear ship a 'catapult'?

Great question, Louise—and it’s one of those terms that sounds almost medieval until you see the tech behind it. The “catapult” on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is a high-tech launch system that rapidly accelerates fighter jets from a standstill to takeoff speed in just a couple of seconds. Here's how it earns the name:

⚙️ What “Catapult” Means in This Context

Mechanical Analogy: Like a medieval catapult hurling a projectile, this system flings aircraft off the deck with immense force. The name stuck because the principle—rapid acceleration over a short distance—is similar.

Carrier Constraints: Aircraft carriers don’t have long runways. A jet needs help reaching takeoff speed in ~100 meters. That’s where the catapult comes in.

                                                                               

                     

🔋 Why Nuclear Power Matters

Energy Demand: Catapults—especially EMALS—require massive, sustained power. Nuclear reactors provide the high output needed without refueling.

Operational Tempo: Nuclear carriers can launch more aircraft, more often, without worrying about fuel logistics.

🧠 What Happens During a Launch

Jet is hooked to a shuttle embedded in the deck.

Holdback bar keeps it in place while tension builds.

Catapult fires—steam or electromagnetic force accelerates the shuttle.

Jet reaches ~150 knots in ~2 seconds and lifts off.

Arresting gear is used for landing, but that’s another story.

If you’re curious about the physics or want to compare launch speeds and forces across systems, I can break that down too. Or we could dive into how EMALS changes tactical doctrine—especially for heavier aircraft like AWACS or stealth fighters.

Tell me about landings with arresting gear...

Landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier is one of the most intense and precise maneuvers in aviation—and arresting gear is the unsung hero that makes it possible. Here's how it works and why it's so critical:

🛬 What Is Arresting Gear?

Arresting gear is a mechanical system designed to rapidly decelerate an aircraft as it lands on the short deck of a carrier. It consists of:

Steel cables stretched across the deck (usually 3–4)

Tailhook on the aircraft that snags the cable

Hydraulic or electromagnetic dampers below deck that absorb the kinetic energy

This system can stop a 50,000-pound jet going 150 mph in about 2 seconds over ~300 feet. Brakes alone wouldn’t stand a chance.

⚙️ How the Landing Sequence Works

Approach: Pilots line up using a Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (the “meatball”) and guidance from Landing Signal Officers.

Touchdown: The jet’s tailhook is lowered and aims to catch one of the arresting wires.

Engagement: If successful, the wire pulls out and activates the below-deck damping system.

Stop: The jet is brought to a full stop in seconds.

Bolter: If the hook misses, the pilot goes full throttle and takes off again for another attempt.🧬 Why It’s So Precise

The deck is angled (~14°) so missed landings (bolters) don’t crash into parked aircraft.

The arresting system must adapt to different aircraft weights—from Super Hornets to unmanned drones.

Advanced systems like the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) use electromagnetic tech for smoother, more versatile recovery—especially important for future aircraft like the F-35C.

If you want to go deeper, I can compare legacy hydraulic systems to AAG, or show how arresting gear affects sortie rates and carrier design. Want to explore that next?

https://www.tiktok.com/@naval_steel/video/7552541346175749398?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Safety:

https://youtu.be/UOQ-ypLDZmo?si=eXTVG5WEyUKbV17d

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Take-off protocol:

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What is the effective force of a 150 pound body accelerated from 0 to 165 mph in 2 seconds?

To calculate the effective force acting on a 150-pound body accelerating from 0 to 165 mph in 2 seconds, we’ll use Newton’s Second Law:

Force (F) = mass (m) × acceleration (a)

Let’s break it down step by step:

                                                                            

✅ Final Answer

≈ 2,509 Newtons of force is required to accelerate a 150-pound body from 0 to 165 mph in 2 seconds.

That’s roughly the force of a high-speed ejection seat or a dragster launch—definitely not gentle. Want to visualize what that feels like in terms of g-forces or compare it to fighter jet catapult launches? I can break that down too.

In terms of g-force...

To express that acceleration in terms of g-force, we simply divide the acceleration by the standard gravitational acceleration:

⚙️ Given:

Acceleration: 36.88 m/s² (from 0 to 165 mph in 2 seconds)

Standard gravity: 9.81 m/s²

                                                                                    

🚀 What Does 3.76g Feel Like?

That’s nearly 4 times the force of gravity pressing on your body.

Comparable to the launch acceleration of a fighter jet from an aircraft carrier via catapult.

Most healthy humans can tolerate this briefly, but sustained exposure can cause blackout or loss of consciousness without specialized gear or training.

If you're modeling a launch, crash, or ejection scenario, I can help simulate the forces on different body parts or compare it to real-world systems like the F/A-18 catapult launch or roller coaster dynamics.

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