How Aircraft Carriers Catapults Work?
Posted 10-26-2004 at 04:21 AM
Have you ever wondered how fighters and aircraft get take off from a carrier in such short distance? It's not just about the sheer power of afterburners or engines. They could not possibly do the improbable fate without the help of something called a catapult.
These "catapults" are not at all anything like the ancient catapults used in wars. They are basically slingshots. There are pistons underneath the deck which propel a shuttle locked onto the plane by a metal lug. These pistons are driven by high-pressured steam.
To prepare for take-off a towbar is attached to the aircrafts, front wheels and gear. To build up pressure and power, similar to a drag racers handbrake, a holdback bar is attached also. Of course, the jet blast deflector shield behind the plane is raised. When everything is in place, the catapult officer often called a ?shooter? is posted into a small enclosed area called the catapult control pod which protrudes just slightly above the flight deck.
The officer then opens up valves to allow high-pressured steam into the cylinders. This steam provides the pistons with the power and strength to launch the plane off the carrier. In the beginning the steam builds up pressure with the piston gear locked into place. When pressure builds up enough, and exactly at the right amount, which is monitored by the catapult control officer, the pilot pushes the thrusters. The holdback keeps the plane back while all this happens. Waiting until, the engines builds up power and considerable thrust, the shooter releases the pistons which launches the craft off its holdbacks. At the end of the run, the towbar is released automatically from the shuttle and the plane lifts off! This steam-driven catapult system can boost a fighter from 0 to 165 miles an hour in less than 2 seconds!
How does a heavy fast fighter come to a stop aboard an aircraft carrier with only 500 feet or 150 meters of landing runway space? This also is not done without the help of equipment and mechanisms. One of the key components is the tail hook, and the arresting wire.
The tail hook is basically a hook on the tail of the plane -- as simple as it sounds. The main objective of the pilot is to snag the hook on one of the four arresting cables stretched across the deck. When the hook is attached, it pulls on the wire which is supported by a hydraulics system. This wire and hydraulics would slow and stop the aircraft effectively. the wire system can stop a 50,000 pound plane travelling at 150 miles an hour to a complete stop within two seconds on a 315 foot landing zone.
There are four arresting wires parallel to each other and spaced 15 meters apart expanding the target for the pilots. The best wire to snag is the third wire although it could be acceptable to get the second and fourth wire. In order to be promoted in ranking, the pilots should be able to hook the third wire every time. However, it is not acceptable to snag the first wire. It is perilously close to the edge of the ship. If you come in too low the pilot might crash into the stern of the carrier. So therefore, the third wire is the target.
To pull this feat off, the pilot has to approach at an exact angle. Landing commences when returning planes "stack up" meaning flying in huge ovals over the carrier. Carrier Air Traffic Control Center controls who would land first according to their fuel situation or status. Whoever has the least fuel lands first.
The pilot chosen will break the formation and head in for the touch down. Landing Signal Officers, as well as radio communication, lights and other equipment along the lines will help guide the plane onto the deck. The LSOs can also give them the red light to ward them off for another run at the landing.
The landing however is quite controversial, when the aircraft hits the deck, the pilot pushes the engines to full power instead of braking and slowing down. This is in case the tailhook does not snag on one of the wires, which then must be compensated by taking off and trying to land again. In order for that to happen you must have full throttle.
An addition to that, the runway is titled slightly at a 14 degree angle, so the landing plane can "bolter" meaning taking off the side of the ship. This prevents collisions of planes.
In the case of a successful landing, the plane is immediately led to the side of the flight deck and chained to the deck. Keep in mind the carrier is a ship therefore prone to rocking and weaving on the rough seas. After it has been parked in the parking lot, the landing has been completed.
[under construction]
Aircraft Carrier Take-Off and Landing
Have you ever wondered how fighters and aircraft get take off from a carrier in such short distance? It's not just about the sheer power of afterburners or engines. They could not possibly do the improbable fate without the help of something called a catapult.
These "catapults" are not at all anything like the ancient catapults used in wars. They are basically slingshots. There are pistons underneath the deck which propel a shuttle locked onto the plane by a metal lug. These pistons are driven by high-pressured steam.
To prepare for take-off a towbar is attached to the aircrafts, front wheels and gear. To build up pressure and power, similar to a drag racers handbrake, a holdback bar is attached also. Of course, the jet blast deflector shield behind the plane is raised. When everything is in place, the catapult officer often called a ?shooter? is posted into a small enclosed area called the catapult control pod which protrudes just slightly above the flight deck.
The officer then opens up valves to allow high-pressured steam into the cylinders. This steam provides the pistons with the power and strength to launch the plane off the carrier. In the beginning the steam builds up pressure with the piston gear locked into place. When pressure builds up enough, and exactly at the right amount, which is monitored by the catapult control officer, the pilot pushes the thrusters. The holdback keeps the plane back while all this happens. Waiting until, the engines builds up power and considerable thrust, the shooter releases the pistons which launches the craft off its holdbacks. At the end of the run, the towbar is released automatically from the shuttle and the plane lifts off! This steam-driven catapult system can boost a fighter from 0 to 165 miles an hour in less than 2 seconds!
How does a heavy fast fighter come to a stop aboard an aircraft carrier with only 500 feet or 150 meters of landing runway space? This also is not done without the help of equipment and mechanisms. One of the key components is the tail hook, and the arresting wire.
The tail hook is basically a hook on the tail of the plane -- as simple as it sounds. The main objective of the pilot is to snag the hook on one of the four arresting cables stretched across the deck. When the hook is attached, it pulls on the wire which is supported by a hydraulics system. This wire and hydraulics would slow and stop the aircraft effectively. the wire system can stop a 50,000 pound plane travelling at 150 miles an hour to a complete stop within two seconds on a 315 foot landing zone.
There are four arresting wires parallel to each other and spaced 15 meters apart expanding the target for the pilots. The best wire to snag is the third wire although it could be acceptable to get the second and fourth wire. In order to be promoted in ranking, the pilots should be able to hook the third wire every time. However, it is not acceptable to snag the first wire. It is perilously close to the edge of the ship. If you come in too low the pilot might crash into the stern of the carrier. So therefore, the third wire is the target.
To pull this feat off, the pilot has to approach at an exact angle. Landing commences when returning planes "stack up" meaning flying in huge ovals over the carrier. Carrier Air Traffic Control Center controls who would land first according to their fuel situation or status. Whoever has the least fuel lands first.
The pilot chosen will break the formation and head in for the touch down. Landing Signal Officers, as well as radio communication, lights and other equipment along the lines will help guide the plane onto the deck. The LSOs can also give them the red light to ward them off for another run at the landing.
The landing however is quite controversial, when the aircraft hits the deck, the pilot pushes the engines to full power instead of braking and slowing down. This is in case the tailhook does not snag on one of the wires, which then must be compensated by taking off and trying to land again. In order for that to happen you must have full throttle.
An addition to that, the runway is titled slightly at a 14 degree angle, so the landing plane can "bolter" meaning taking off the side of the ship. This prevents collisions of planes.
In the case of a successful landing, the plane is immediately led to the side of the flight deck and chained to the deck. Keep in mind the carrier is a ship therefore prone to rocking and weaving on the rough seas. After it has been parked in the parking lot, the landing has been completed.
[under construction]
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