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Top Fuelers?? Try steam catapult launch!

Bladecutter

Bladecutter

"Pursuit of Shape"
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Reading some older stats on Carrier launched F-14's. Mind boggle. An F-14 on a steam catapult hits 168 KNOTSph in 2.1 seconds!!! Over 200mph! 10+G's! Single pilot or crew are blacked out before the bird crosses threshhold of bow, so take-off & initial climb procedures are performed by rote. Landing forces are near same in reverse, they have to make approach under power @ about 170 knots & SLAM the bird on the deck(praying like hell the tail hook grabs the arresting cable)& the bird halted to dead stop in 150 feet. Carrier Pilots are Truly, the baddest, brassiest balled sons of ******* alive in the context of Man & Go machines.
NAVY Guys, correct my figures if i misquoted any.
Dead sticking the space shuttle to Earth @ 270 KNOTS is some damned impressive **** too, but i don't think it quite stacks up to the Carrier Pilot in a lead sled's job.
 
It's def a sight to see, I spent my fair share of time on the flight deck final checking F-14A tomcats, and then after decommissioning those made a deployment with the F/A-18E super hornets. I'm a tomcat guy and always will be, I joined the navy to work on and be around those birds. Kids who join today have no clue what real work is, those were non stop, sometimes grueling maintenance. But bad to the bone jets. Not much compares to watching a tomcat launch off the bow of a carrier, dip down below the deck for a second then pull right up in full after burner !!
 
65-440 said:
It's def a sight to see, I spent my fair share of time on the flight deck final checking F-14A tomcats, and then after decommissioning those made a deployment with the F/A-18E super hornets. I'm a tomcat guy and always will be, I joined the navy to work on and be around those birds. Kids who join today have no clue what real work is, those were non stop, sometimes grueling maintenance. But bad to the bone jets. Not much compares to watching a tomcat launch off the bow of a carrier, dip down below the deck for a second then pull right up in full after burner !!
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Yeah, i'm jealous! I got to crawl around on F-14 one day just helping pull some fasteners from Her back....one that YANKS museum @ Chino has. Beautiful plane. To all Carrier Pilots,,in the words of Teddy Roosevelt,,,,,
BULLY,,BULLY,,,,, You walk with a BIG Stick!!!!
 
Also, when the aircraft hits the deck, the pilot hits full throttle, that's incase the arresting wire breaks and they can just take off again.

Got all that from my dad, 20 year Navy guy that worked on the missle guidance, radar, and firing electronics on both the 14, 18 and 18 super hornet.
 
Basket case said:
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Caught that movie hot off the press. Gawd, on landing, the ldg. gear & airframe stresses are just incredible! They haul down in 150 feet from approx 170-180mph. The G's the pilot & rear holer have to endure. Truly has to be one of the Eight Wonders of the World!
 
Watch "Triple Tomcat Launch" on YouTube

Watch "F-14 and F/A-18 Night Cat Shot Fun!" on YouTube

Watch "Final Tomcat Flyby" on YouTube
 
My son has made a couple launches and traps in the COD with the Truman. Was on the Trumans last deployment with the Cats.
He said its the best thrill ride ever.
 
Slap Stick said:
My son has made a couple launches and traps in the COD with the Truman. Was on the Trumans last deployment with the Cats.
He said its the best thrill ride ever.
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absolutely ! I took a cat shot and trap on a COD aboard the USS Nimitz going to Israel. Cat shot was a blast, catching the wire was over fast ! A cool experience for sure ...
 
have you UNpuckered yet? I'd be closed for business for quite some time I'm sure.
 
And my daughter said Tom Cruise signed on for a Topgun II!!
 
Not to downplay the fighter pilots at all, but...
Top fuel dragsters can match that acceleration - over 200 mph. in the first two seconds. Only took 5 g's to do it too. :)

On March 13, 2010, in Gainesville, Fla., Kalitta driver David Grubnic set a top speed record on the 1000-foot track. Here's a breakdown.

0.50 Sec
10.27 ft — 73.89 mph

The motor screams at its 8300 rpm redline, and the tires buckle under the load of getting the 2300-pound dragster moving.

1.00 Sec
51.94 ft — 113.82 mph

To reduce power and the acceleration of the driveshaft and tires, the ignition advance is retarded from 56 degrees to 27—a strategy to keep the tires gripping the track surface instead of spinning.

1.50 Sec
125.09 — 162.45 mph

The ignition timing is advanced back to the maximum value. The clutch's throw-out bearing has moved through three of its five stages, increasing the pressure on the discs.

2.00 Sec
231.91 ft — 213.09 mph

The fuel flow ramps to 95 gallons per minute. Aerodynamics increase tire traction so the throw-out bearing tightens its grip. The engine slightly bogs to 7200 rpm.

2.50 Sec
379.86 ft — 248.50 mph

In the time required to take a sip of coffee, Grubnic's car reaches 248 mph. Some of the clutch plates begin welding together, pulling the engine to its lowest rpm, 6500.

3.00 Sec
566.16 ft — 271.62 mph

Thanks to 5000 pounds of aero downforce, the tires have incredible traction, but wind resistance slows acceleration from the maximum 5 g's to about 4.

3.50 Sec
783.62 ft — 293.41 mph

Late in the run, many spark plugs have burned away, so the engine is dieseling, and some cylinders simply don't fire. "This is the engine's toughest zone," Oberhofer says.

3.83 Sec
1000 ft — 321.58 mph

The mechanical abuse finally ends as the dragster clears nearly 500 feet per second. Next, the driver pulls the chute and the crew then feverishly prepares for the next run.

Incidentally, the newest carrier - Gerald R. Ford - doesn't use a steam powered catapult system. They are electric.
 
1.50 Sec
125.09 feet— 162.45 mph

OK, You got me. F-14 on steam cat accelerates in 150 feet to 150 mph

I read a bit about the electro-magnetic cat....they say it has potential to push & pull bird to
240 mph in same amount of feet.
 
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