Aircraft Carriers III

B.I.B.

Captain
Merry Christmas to you, I guess we'll be debating in 2018 and beyond LOL

and in the meantime ...:
1df0da694f70910bc0bec86440f6dfee.jpg

I've gotten already about 80% presents for the Christmas Day trip to the region I come from LOL[/QUOTE]


Im waiting for Ded Moroz and his grandaughter Snegurochka , it beats Santa Claus and his stupid elves

upload_2017-12-20_14-27-18.jpeg
 
Just to let you know I've gone the extra mile for you guys, so that the truth can be told: pic shows Big Liz is still very much afloat and pic two is an exclusive shot of the Leek itself:View attachment 44185
I was wondering how much did she take in, now noticed in a blog post (HMS Queen Elizabeth – a large and convenient media target
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)

"... the 200 litres per hour that is leaking ..."

if true, something like this:
might be still inside and could be mopped LOL

I hope the story ends here
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Complete NON Story. No cost to taxpayer, no delay in next deployment, if it happened at sea she wouldn't even slow down to fix it. This is the sort of thing sea trials are designed to find, and the naysayers are getting desperate for bad things to say now reality has kicked in and she's here. View attachment 44164
And according sailors all ships have leaks :cool:


More :p
French TONNERRE L9014 and destroyer CHEVALIER PAUL D621 join with US expeditionary base LEWIS B PULLER ESB3
French assault ship TONNERRE.jpg French assault #ship TONNERRE L9014 and destroyer CHEVALIER PAUL  - 2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Tuesday at 6:33 PM
IJFHGR3XHBE3RJMTLJYIDA67HM.jpg


cross-posting this picture from
US Navy MQ-25 Stingray Unmanned Aerial Tanker 4 minutes ago
related:
Boeing Phantom Works Reveals MQ-25 Prototype
Dec 19, 2017
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has taken the wrapping off its proposal for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray program.

The first full picture of the aerial tanking UAV was released by the company on Dec. 19, revealing a stout wing-body-tail design with a canted V-tail.

The tanker drone has been designed by Boeing to refuel manned, carrier strike aircraft heading to faraway combat zones, including the Boeing
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Super Hornet,
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Growler and
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, and perhaps supporting aircraft like
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’s
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.

The design appears to be an enlarged version of Boeing’s concept for the former Navy Unmanned Carrier-Launched Surveillance and Strike (Uclass) program, which in 2016 morphed into the MQ-25 Stingray Carrier-Based Aerial Refueling System.

It is difficult to tell much about the aircraft because of the way the image is framed. But compared to Boeing’s Uclass concept, the body has clearly been enlarged for fuel capacity. The wing and tail appear to fold up to reduce the aircraft’s spot factor on the carrier deck.

The prototype was developed by Boeing’s Phantom Works advanced programs division. It is the basis for the company’s MQ-25 proposal, which must be submitted to the program office at Naval Air Systems Command by Jan. 3, 2018.

Defense companies typically wait until after the deadline for submissions has passed before showing their hand. But with the Christmas holiday approaching in the U.S., Boeing’s rivals probably won’t have enough time to alter their proposals to gain a competitive advantage.

Boeing’s version has not flown yet, with Don Gaddis, Phantom Works’ MQ-25 program lead, saying it will be ready for flight testing once a development contract is awarded. The aircraft is currently undergoing engine trials ahead of carrier deck handling demonstrations next year.

Boeing is one of four companies that have for several years been working directly with the Navy on carrier-based drone concepts, first for stealthy strike missions and now for utility work. The other contenders still in the race are
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and
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, which also have been developing advanced prototypes. Northrop Grumman declined to bid, having already built two X-47B demonstrators under the former Uclass technology demonstration effort.

The Navy’s main reason for pursuing an aerial tanker instead of a more complex surveillance and strike aircraft is to free up F/A-18E/Fs assigned to tanking duties for strike missions. Today, aircraft carriers assign anywhere from four to six Super Hornets equipped with 480-gal. refueling tanks and a centerline aerial refueling system, or buddy store, to tanking operations.

Instead, the Navy wants to buy up to 72 unarmed UAVs that are capable of offloading at least 14,000 lb. of gas beyond 500 mi. from the carrier at sea. Surveillance is a secondary mission. The aircraft must have accommodations for a buddy store, sensor turret and enough output power for additional appendages, like a maritime surveillance radar.

The initial contract is a fixed-price incentive type for the engineering and manufacturing development phase.

Four aircraft will be built initially to support development and flight testing. If successful, the winner can look forward to follow-on contracts for serial production.

Boeing believes its UAV is “best suited” to the mission. “Boeing has been delivering carrier aircraft to the Navy for almost 90 years,” Gaddis says. “Our expertise gives us confidence in our approach.”
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
I was wondering how much did she take in, now noticed in a blog post (HMS Queen Elizabeth – a large and convenient media target
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
)

"... the 200 litres per hour that is leaking ..."

if true, something like this:

might be still inside and could be mopped LOL

I hope the story ends here

I'll bring my "wet or dry shop vac over Obiwan, we could prolly take a lil ride after noon on Christmas day?? LOL
 
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