PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - No cats and flaps ...... back to F35B?
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Old 10th Apr 2012, 00:13
  #391 (permalink)  
GreenKnight121
 
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The modern catapult (both steam and USN), when combined with a modern aircraft, is much simpler to hook up and launch.

The USN never used that "pull the tail down so the nose gear is off the deck" launch method, and the last bridle-launch aircraft left USN carrier decks in the 1980s.

All current USN aircraft (F-35C included) use a nose-wheel catapult attachment, which is far simpler and quicker to use than the archaic 1950s method shown in the video.

Here is a video of the incredibly complex method used in today's USN catapult & Super Hornet.

Note the complex equipment to attach the aircraft to the catapult shuttle:
1 hold-back bar, attached on the catapult;
1 nose-tow bar, lowered by the pilot.

The hold-back bar can be installed by one person... I suspect they were doing training here.
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