PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - An utterly daft question about aircraft carriers
Old 29th November 2012 | 12:00
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John Farley

Do a Hover - it avoids G
 
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I suspect the ship you mention is the one previously used by the Spanish navy to fly their Harriers (Matadors to them). They used the ski-jump for all the usual Harrier reasons.

As to choppers I am no expert but they can lift more with a rolling takeoff due to translational lift from the rotor disk. Goodness knows whether all the issues of hitting 2-3 g on the ramp just to gain a bit of free time in the air while they accelerate to flying speed would be worth while I can't say but if asked for my best guess I would say a resounding no. The advantages of a ski-jump are totally dependent on being able to accelerate rapidly off the end (.7g ish - the more the better) Does not sound helicopter stuff to me.
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