PREVIEW

The crew of America’s newest aircraft carrier have been catapulting cars into the sea to test its electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
A team from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division and the crew of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) began “dead-load” testing in late February.
In this phase, large, wheeled, car-like structures of graduated weights up to 80,000 pounds to simulate the weight of actual aircraft are launched off the carrier’s bow into the James River in Virginia.
They are then retrieved and relaunched until the conclusion of the test programme to ensure the catapults are ready for their primary intended purpose: to launch all carrier-based fixed wing aircraft flown by the U.S. Navy.
The first dead loads used in this testing have special significance. Family members of shipbuilders signed them with messages of congratulations and gratitude during the shipyard’s Family Day held in October.
“As we make sustained progress in the construction, testing and turnover of John F. Kennedy, reaching the dead load testing phase is a visual demonstration of how far we’ve come,” said Lucas Hicks, vice president, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) new construction aircraft carrier programme.
“It is evident from the thousands of written messages that our shipbuilders and their families appreciate and understand the significance of our work. We are proud of the incredible teamwork that has brought us to this point, and remain committed to delivering this mighty aircraft carrier to the fleet so the crew can carry out the important mission ahead.”

PT Colin Day, commanding officer, PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), added: “The first dead-load launch off the flight deck is a historic moment for PCU John F. Kennedy, and a testament to the power of great teamwork between our JFK crew, HII team, and NAVAIR engineers.
“I’m particularly proud of our Air Department and the hard-working Aviation Boatswain Mates who worked tirelessly alongside the engineering and testing teams to get us to this critical moment.”
The EMALS sends its payloads travelling more than 300 feet down the catapult track at more than 150 miles per hour.