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Subject: Bridle launch techniques
DropBear    8/15/2005 1:59:11 AM
Can somebody explain to me why the CDG doesn't have protruding bridle launch bar pontoons similar to older USN carrier designs? The French operate the Super Etendard in this way, whilst the newer Rafale uses conventional nose gear launch equipment. I have noticed through pictures and models that the CDG has only a relatively small netting device and this doesn’t seem adequate. Or is it? Older designs on USN carriers had both the fore and angled decks covered with pontoons that stuck out substantially, in order to collect the rather valuable bridle once it had fallen away from the plane/catapult. Does anyone have any thoughts on this apparent lack, or why the French Navy can afford to lose/replace said bridle after every Super-E launch?
 
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DropBear    RE:Bridle launch techniques   8/17/2005 9:45:03 PM
Thoughts?
 
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DarthAmerica    RE:Bridle launch techniques   8/17/2005 10:23:08 PM
Sorry Drop, I dont know jack about this one!
 
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DropBear    Where are the French posters???   8/18/2005 2:56:31 AM
At least you answered. ;)
 
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gf0012-aust    RE:Where are the French posters???   8/18/2005 4:11:42 AM
why don't you chuck in a hook thread on armed forces or fighters? thats where they seem to go first.
 
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Francois    RE:Where are the French posters???   8/18/2005 5:10:23 AM
Yes, I agree, before the Rafale (SuEM p.e.), the bridle was thrown in the water when the plane is launched. So they had hundreds of them hung in the hangar. I am not sure of the reason though... Maybe wasn't worth to keep those.
 
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DropBear    gf - I have posted this on surface forces, naval air and Oz boards   8/18/2005 5:34:19 AM
What else must a Bear do? ;)
 
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DropBear    RE:Where are the French posters??? - Francois   8/18/2005 5:36:56 AM
But with a high operational tempo, surely they would run out of bridles if they are just flung into the ocean and not retrieved? If you run out of launch equipment, then you are in serious trouble and possibly unable to launch an entire compliment of one type of aircraft, in this case the Super-E. Sounds a rather iffy situation to find your carrier in, unable to launch a jet due to a bit of metal.
 
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Hibou    RE:Bridle launch techniques   8/18/2005 5:40:24 PM
I may have a part of answer for you Dropbear. First, the CDG will never run out of bridles becaouse there are thousends of them onboard. Even with 100 cat shots daily, the CDG stay at sea several months without problems. Bridles can also be resupplied easily during a mission, even at sea. More, I'm not 100% sure of this info but I heard Bridles for Super-E are designed to be safe for only one shot, so it's not useful to keep them after a launch. Hope it will answer your question ?
 
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Francois    RE:Bridle launch techniques   8/18/2005 7:37:27 PM
Ok, Hibou took my words... Beside this, I get that they are using "off the shelf" (if I may say) bridles. They do not have anything really special and are rather common in some industry (dunno which though). So the loss is not that heavy. Yes, respl ships are carrying more bridles if needed. Foch and Clem never ran out of them in their whole life.
 
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DropBear    RE:Bridle launch techniques - Thanks guys   8/19/2005 1:37:32 AM
:)
 
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