Ace of Spades HQ

December 21, 2010

Neato: First Successful Electromagnetic Launch of a Plane
— Ace

Aircraft carriers launch by some kind of steam-based hydraulic canon, but this new system is electromagnetic.

So what's the advantage? I think, if I'm reading this right, it's that the e-mag can be dialed up or down in power to launch a whole bunch of differently-weighted planes, whereas the steam catapults were pretty much limited to launching a plane of one weight (within small parameters of variation). Correction: Sorta right. The steam cats could launch a variety of weights, but could not get low enough to launch UAVs and couldn't be dialed up to launch heavier planes.

Among other advantages, that system promises to allow the Navy to launch a wider range of aircraft from a carrier -- including everything from lightweight unmanned aircraft to heavy strike fighters -- and do so while also bringing "substantial improvements" to weight, maintenance, and efficiency.

Video below.

Railguns on their way, presumably.

Thanks to CDR M.

Posted by: Ace at 03:28 PM | Comments (59)
Post contains 169 words, total size 2 kb.

Railguns on their way, presumably.

Indeed.

US Navy Producing Scaled-Down Rail Gun Naval Weapon

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at December 21, 2010 03:31 PM (c0A3e)

2 According to recent comments in the side bar, Ugg boots are for sale for Christmas. I am waiting for the President's Day lace wig sale myself.

Posted by: wooga at December 21, 2010 03:31 PM (2p0e3)

3 I read somewhere that the stresses on the plane during launch were quiet a bit less with this type of system. What ever, still cool.

Posted by: Bosk at December 21, 2010 03:31 PM (pUO5u)

Sweet. How, pray tell, do we afford to install these on any new carriers (which will also be fun trying to pay for) or retrofit them on older carriers?

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at December 21, 2010 03:31 PM (xy9wk)

5 So what's the advantage? I think, if I'm reading this right, it's that the e-mag can be dialed up or down in power to launch a whole bunch of differently-weighted planes, whereas the steam catapults were pretty much limited to launching a plane of one weight (within small parameters of variation):

Not entirely true, you could vary the steam pressure in the cats for varying the weight.

Posted by: Vic at December 21, 2010 03:32 PM (e4sSD)

6 "Fucking magnets, how do they work?"

Posted by: ICP at December 21, 2010 03:33 PM (pUO5u)

7 Can electromagnetic vibrators be far behind?

Posted by: CoolCzech at December 21, 2010 03:33 PM (tJjm/)

8 Where's the Top Gun background music?

I feel cheated.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 21, 2010 03:34 PM (2IDCB)

9 @8: this is basically a straight site, Dr. Spank.

Posted by: CoolCzech at December 21, 2010 03:34 PM (tJjm/)

Standard equipment on the new Chevrolet Volt.

Posted by: Cicero at December 21, 2010 03:35 PM (QKKT0)

"Can electromagnetic vibrators be far behind?"

Shhhhh....That's our little secret!

Posted by: A boatload of gay seamen at December 21, 2010 03:35 PM (pUO5u)

12 This is a big fucking deal! Turn the boat left there, Skipper.

Posted by: Admiral Joe Biden at December 21, 2010 03:35 PM (SwkdU)

13 @9 : then have your boyfriend stop stalking me.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 21, 2010 03:36 PM (2IDCB)

14 That's fine and all but how does it help put more salad bars on the carriers?

Posted by: Mi'chelle at December 21, 2010 03:37 PM (lH6z9)

15 13 @9 : then have your boyfriend stop stalking me.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 21, 2010 07:36 PM (2IDCB)

Stalking is such an ugly word! I think you two should meet and talk it over.

Posted by: CoolCzech at December 21, 2010 03:38 PM (tJjm/)

16 Just as long as he does my laundry.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 21, 2010 03:38 PM (2IDCB)

17 I miss the steam coming out of the deck after the launch.

Posted by: Cicero at December 21, 2010 03:39 PM (QKKT0)

18 You wanted Top Gun theme music? Here, you got it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPTk_C5wmsg

Posted by: CoolCzech at December 21, 2010 03:40 PM (tJjm/)

19 You guys wouldn't believe the volleyball game that erupted after the launch .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at December 21, 2010 03:40 PM (npr0X)

20 >>17 I miss the steam coming out of the deck after the launch.

Tell your boyfriend that in private.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 21, 2010 03:40 PM (2IDCB)

That's fine and all but how is this going to get more Pooftas in the fleet?

Posted by: Barney at December 21, 2010 03:41 PM (lH6z9)

22 Cough ..... there was supposed to be a sock on .

Posted by: Goose at December 21, 2010 03:42 PM (npr0X)

23 @22: Sex by surprise!!

Posted by: CoolCzech at December 21, 2010 03:42 PM (tJjm/)

It works, therefore it's cancelled.

Posted by: Barry S at December 21, 2010 03:43 PM (lH6z9)

25 Wait....who said "surrounded by seamen?" Because I am, like, sooooooooo there!

Posted by: Lindsey Graham at December 21, 2010 03:43 PM (xy9wk)

26 Something like this could start a new Launch Race!

Posted by: Typical Liberal at December 21, 2010 03:43 PM (tJjm/)

27 @25: Seamen is finger licking good!

Posted by: Barney Frank at December 21, 2010 03:44 PM (tJjm/)

28 This thread's gone full ghey.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 21, 2010 03:45 PM (2IDCB)

29 Can electromagnetic vibrators be far behind?

If there aren't already such things, a Sonicare toothbrush is a kitbash away from being one.

(It uses an electromagnet in the handle to vibrate the replaceable toothbrush.)

(And I can't believe I'm so much of an engineer that I actually thought of this. Geez.)

Posted by: Meiczyslaw at December 21, 2010 03:45 PM (bjRNS)

30 28 This thread's gone full ghey.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 21, 2010 07:45 PM (2IDCB)

Aye, lad, it be a queer one, it is!

Posted by: "Long John" Silver at December 21, 2010 03:46 PM (tJjm/)

@21: "That's fine and all but how is this going to get more Pooftas in the fleet?"

More?!? More?!? Dude, it's the Navy. 500 sailors go to sea, 250 couples come back. How much higher than 100% can you go?

_{I keed, I keed}

Posted by: Jim Mora at December 21, 2010 03:49 PM (xy9wk)

@29: "If there aren't already such things, a Sonicare toothbrush is a kitbash away from being one."

Great! NOW you tell me....

Posted by: Lady who had an unfortunate incident with a dildo and a Sawzall at December 21, 2010 03:50 PM (xy9wk)

33 Kill it! Kill it now!

Posted by: B. Hussein Obama at December 21, 2010 03:53 PM (SYdmf)

34 Canon?

Posted by: Pachelbel at December 21, 2010 04:09 PM (v3AGq)

35 Seemed like there were a lot of trees around that carrier.

Posted by: AndrewsDad at December 21, 2010 04:13 PM (C2//T)

36 Southern Miss is dominating the opening minutes of the Beef O'Brady Bowl!

Posted by: toby928™ at December 21, 2010 04:15 PM (S5YRY)

Aircraft carriers launch by some kind of steam-based hydraulic canon . . .

Yes, that old set of dusty books about steam and hydraulics were getting old and tattered, so we will now have this brand-spanking new set of books on electromagnetics, the electromagnetic canon.

Awesome.

Posted by: Sharkman at December 21, 2010 04:19 PM (sqNU7)

38 One play, 62 yard TD Golden Eagles.

Dominating.

Posted by: toby928™ at December 21, 2010 04:23 PM (S5YRY)

39 Aircraft carriers launch by some kind of steam-based hydraulic canon . . . Finally . Something I have in common with an aircraft carrier .

Posted by: Goose at December 21, 2010 04:24 PM (npr0X)

40 I wonder how much space these systems will free up under the carrier? The steam catapult takes a lot of space.

Posted by: Kemp at December 21, 2010 04:25 PM (JpFM9)

41 Bad sock , filthy sock .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at December 21, 2010 04:26 PM (npr0X)

42 #30

It IS the Navy, DADT!!

http://tinyurl.com/4dbgfa

Posted by: Barney at December 21, 2010 04:28 PM (JpFM9)

43 Having done 3 tours on aircraft carriers (CVN65, CVN65, CVN72) steam driven cats are completely adjustable for pressure. Plane weights are critical prior to launch, and the cat is dialed in for each launch.
Coming out of the Olongapo (adult Disneyland) we would sometimes launch a car off the bow cat just for fun...

Posted by: Dave Head at December 21, 2010 04:30 PM (QsoEC)

44 Can they fit one of those e-cats onto a camel? They're the ships of the desert, you know.

Posted by: Cicero at December 21, 2010 04:33 PM (QKKT0)

45 I kept hearing "In the Navy!" in the background. With gheys dancing fabulously, in full Navy dress, on deck.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 21, 2010 04:38 PM (UOM48)

What would an EMP do to the electromagnet system? Would the steam system be better protected? Just read a Brad Thor book about EMPs. Even if it is over exagerated, scary crap.

Posted by: PugBoo Procrastinating Holiday Tasks at December 21, 2010 04:41 PM (h3ZPT)

47
What would an EMP do to the electromagnet system?

Dunno. I doubt it would cause more disruption than what one would do to a carrier with a steam cat. I realize that military grade systems are supposed to be better able to handle an EMP, but I'm not sure how those systems are tested.

And "lab conditions" != "actual battlefield conditions".

Now, if it where me, you wouldn't need to worry about an EMP. I'd save the nuke, and drop some hyperkinetic bolts thru the hull...

Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie © at December 21, 2010 05:01 PM (BDH94)

48 If the nuclear device that caused the EMP is close enough to affect this system with EMP, launching aircraft is the least of your worries. Same with a very high altitude burst EMP strike.

Posted by: Some Dick at December 21, 2010 05:02 PM (llLpU)

49 Another advantage e-cats would have would be water consumption. Each cat shot is a couple of hundred gallons of fresh water. Ironically, at sea, water is a limited resource. Not as much on a carrier as it is on other classes of ship. But the point is the same.

Posted by: 2549 at December 21, 2010 05:12 PM (kvxPn)

50 How far can it launch a RINO?

If no one sees the splash, does it make a noise?

Posted by: drfredc at December 21, 2010 05:51 PM (puRnk)

51 Also, if they don't need to run steam lines through the ship for the cat, they can go to electric drive for the engines and save a lot of space. Plus, I'd imagine not having live, pressurized steam lines running the length of your ship would be a benefit if people started putting holes in it.

Posted by: SparcVark at December 21, 2010 06:25 PM (L7x2K)

52 The goal is an all-electric ship. Now that the engineers know how to build really big electric motors with variable speed, they want to have the reactor turning a generator and the props turned by electric motors. One of the things that gets away from is reduction gears -- steam turbines turn fast, props have to turn slow, and the gears for several tens of thousands of horsepower are not small, simple, or cheap. It also makes redundant drive easier, say if a reactor is down for any reason feeding power to the motors is easier with electricity than with steam. There are disadvantages too, of course, but current thought is that the advantages are more important.

The other big steam-consumer is the catapults, and they're really quite complicated, mechanically. If they can build a big enough linear induction motor to serve as a catapult, the only steam pipes on the ship would be from reactor to turbine, short, simple, and easy to maintain. With even ordinary good engineering and a little luck, it comes out simpler, more flexible, and maybe even cheaper.

Posted by: Ric Locke at December 21, 2010 07:00 PM (0kx35)

53 PR is a funny animal. I'll bet a lot of us had been wondering what went on there at Lakehurst since the Hindenburg embarrassment.

Posted by: comatus at December 21, 2010 07:33 PM (hrwMe)

54 It threw FLOTUS 6 feet. Outstanding, Gentlemen.

Posted by: eman at December 21, 2010 08:20 PM (XXyJt)

55 So this electro-rail lauch system won't be affected by an EMP weapon then?

Posted by: Speller at December 21, 2010 10:19 PM (J74Py)

56 High-pressure live steam is lethally dangerous shit. The less of it you need to use in routine operations, the better. Of course we have to ban this new system because it might interfere with the whales' aurae...

Posted by: richard mcenroe at December 22, 2010 05:59 AM (LFAxM)

57 Dave Head -- my favorite mil t-shirt: I've Been to Po City, and All I Got Was This Rash That Won't Go Away...

Posted by: richard mcenroe at December 22, 2010 06:02 AM (LFAxM)

Asics running

Asics running shoes

Asics gel

Asics tiger

Posted by: asics shoes at December 23, 2010 10:06 PM (Uw8og)

59 Compared to steam, EMALS takes up less space, requires fewer men, and takes a LOT less maintenance. It also *automatically* adjusts for launch weight- steam cats are adjustable, but manually, and over a smaller range (not low enough for UAVs). Moreover, EMALS provides a steady acceleration rather than one massive kick in the butt, which puts less stress on airframes.

Posted by: Bohemond at December 25, 2010 05:35 AM (krvSm)

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