It is worth noting that Cmdr Taylor's original thesis which lead to the ski jump ramp was called 'The Runway In The Sky' because as Sammy has just said that is exactly what it does. The aircraft isn't actually 'flying' on it's wings until it reaches for example 130+ knots, but that would require a flight deck in excess of 1500 ft in length for some types. The ramp throws the aircraft into the air long before it is truly flying and buys it time to continue accelerating to full flying speed, due to the ballistic component. It also buys the pilot time in case of an emergency such as engine failure to decide to eject, many more vital seconds than if launched from a flat deck (either by cat shot or rolling free takeoff as on a rampless USN LHA/LHD). It is giving you an extra 500+ feet of 'virtual' runway made of air, for free. Not often you get a bargain like that!
