Military History | How To Make War | Wars Around the World Rules of Use How to Behave on an Internet Forum
Naval Air Discussion Board
Sign In   Return to Topic Page
Subject: Catapult & Ramp Take-off
MidnightCougar    3/4/2004 3:31:47 PM
Would it be feasible to create a catapult-over-ramp system? If it's been considered, what were the problems? The systems I envision would either have a capult that continued up the ramp (i.e. curved track) or completely befor the ramp itself.
 
Quote    Reply

Email Me When A New Comment Is Made
Show Only Poster Name and Title     Newest to Oldest
lquam    RE:Catapult & Ramp Take-off   3/4/2004 9:01:42 PM
Perhaps, once they have developed and worked the kinks out of the electromagnetic catapults for CVN78. But think for a minute... can you see an E2C getting catapulted up a ramp? Ramps were an ingenious invention by the Brits to get their Harriers up in the air with a little more ordnance and fuel off of their baby carriers. They use Sea King helos for airborne early warning and I'm sure they'll be picking up Hawkeyes once they have proper carriers again. A ramp might get you a little reduction in the amount of wind you need over your deck to launch--you're basically forcing rotation and putting a lot more lift under the wing at the end of the deck, but I think one of the main reasons for going electromagnetic (besides fewer moving parts and things to go wrong) is to create faster take-off speeds to do the same thing. I don't think any current or future USN aircraft are in any way compatible with a ramp. Remember that the Brit Harriers still take off at pretty low speeds and vector thrust down as they head off the lip of the ramp. The USN never bothered putting them on the LHA/LHDs as they usually have just a few Harriers embarked anyway and it would take up valuable helo launching space. I'm thinking Road Runner cartoon here... the F-18 gets to the base of the ramp and just keeps tunneling straight through to the other side. Wiley Coyote hangs in air for a moment as the plane falls out from under him, waves to the camera, and plummets into the sea himself. --Len
 
Quote    Reply

MidnightCougar    RE:Catapult & Ramp Take-off   3/5/2004 10:38:19 AM
The US tested the E2 with a small ramp, apparently it works though it will take some mods to the nose gear if they were to use the 15 degree ramps of the Brit carriers. I'm thinking with a ramp/cat greater TO wt would be possible. But, I agree, it's not likely to be feasible until the EMcat is operational.
 
Quote    Reply

Hugin    RE:Catapult & Ramp Take-off   3/5/2004 5:10:17 PM
The Russians have demonstrated ramps (actually, they are called "ski-jumps) works pretty well even with conventional jets. You don't need vectored thrust to benefit from a ski-jump. Another point about ski-jumps. You needn't concern yourself too much about shooting the cat at the right time(that is; NOT when the bows is sinking) to avoid shooting your expensive jets right into the sea. This is of course mostly a "bad weather" concern. Wherther a ski-jump/catapult combo is practicable; I've no idea.
 
Quote    Reply

gf0012-aust    Catapults - Mark F   3/6/2004 12:45:18 AM
MArk, is the USN still using the MK7 mod 4 catapult or has this been superceded?
 
Quote    Reply

french stratege    RE:Catapult & Ramp Take-off   4/27/2004 4:05:20 PM
US have tried this idea with 4 degree ramp.
 
Quote    Reply



StrategyWorld.com© 1998 - 2012StrategyWorld.com. All rights Reserved. StrategyWorld.com, StrategyPage.com, FYEO, For Your Eyes Only and Al Nofi's CIC are all trademarks of StrategyWorld.com Privacy Policy