UK Defence Forum

Ron5 wrote:Don't take much to persuade a Marine to drink, invite some ladies and they'll have half the squadrons Ospreys on deck to chose from

So that's why there was such a big shipment of crayons to her before departing the UK...

Ron5 wrote:He was thinking I should fly up to NY to see the carrier. Not a bad idea at all. But ony if she was open for walkthrus.

I probably noted the Stars'n'Stripes next to the post and assumed it was from you Ron!

Not good, NOT GOOD AT ALL !!!!

QEC Eye in the SKY wrote:

Not good, NOT GOOD AT ALL !!!!

Would this effect our trials as I thought the F35s being used were part the joint test group, some of which are US some UK and some LM owned aircraft.

I know we normaly follow US lead on these things but would we here if it results in qualify being really set back

EDIT -

Seems the F35's aren't effected. At least the MOD is on the ball!!

QEC Eye in the SKY wrote: At least the MOD is on the ball!!

It takes Richter scale 7 to wake them up... and communicate. No?

Sea State 6! I wonder if the F-35s are still flying and landing in that?

Well they did say they'd go look for bad weather! Looks like the bad weather came to them.

It has been published before on the sea state levels the aircraft operations can continue ,I cant find this though but I seem to recall a higher sea state that the f35b could operate from the carrier ?

A video of the Osprey landing:



It looks very at home, I must say...

So in total we've now seen the following land on QE:

- Merlin
- Wildcat
- Chinook
- Sea Stallion
- Lightning
- Osprey
- One random hobby-drone

I wonder what else QE can "collect" while she has the chance over there! Someone needs to keep a list of everything that's landed on her.

As USMC are involved, I'd guess AH-1 / UH-1's would be up at some point...



Do like the Cobra

RetroSicotte wrote:So in total we've now seen the following land on QE:

- Merlin
- Wildcat
- Chinook
- Sea Stallion
- Lightning
- Osprey
- One random hobby-drone

I wonder what else QE can "collect" while she has the chance over there! Someone needs to keep a list of everything that's landed on her.

Pretty sure I saw a Seahawk parked on the flight deck behind a Merlin last week too.

Might be already posted.

In this USS Essex F35B operation movie, F35Bs are using the full length of the deck, 257m long, and still after the lift-off, it looks "heavy". See from 2:40- onward.


I think the bombs are carried, and fuel are full. I'm looking forward to see "full load" lift off of F35B from QNLZ. It can even carry something under the wing, because not ALL the mission needs stealth. With tanks and bombs under the wing, how long F35B needs to run, to take off from QNLZ?

Also, with using the full deck, it looks like the deck crews are experiencing significant blast wind. There is clearly only a small room for other helicopters to be carried. I had an impression that, F35B "strike" operations from LHD is doable, but with significant limitations on deck handling of aircrafts.

QNLZ with its large flight deck lies in a different world, I think.

Dahedd wrote:retty sure I saw a Seahawk parked on the flight deck behind a Merlin last week too.

Yep. An SH-60 from the Lassen I think has landed on as well, it was in the rear on a released picture.

RetroSicotte wrote:So in total we've now seen the following land on QE:

- Merlin
- Wildcat
- Chinook
- Sea Stallion
- Lightning
- Osprey
- One random hobby-drone

I wonder what else QE can "collect" while she has the chance over there! Someone needs to keep a list of everything that's landed on her.

You forget these, which were the first actual deck "landings"....

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), Royal Navy.
WE Department, first 'proper' deck landings.
Vid by R08 WE Dept, July 2017.

RetroSicotte wrote:I wonder what else QE can "collect" while she has the chance over there!

Seahawk.

That is a great shot

External Pylons on the F-35.

Do we know if they are conducting weapon releases on the QE trials?

Jdam wrote:Do we know if they are conducting weapon releases on the QE trials?

Operational trials are next year.

A fully operational QNLZ is going to pose some soul searching questions for the people who control the USN budget. Whilst the Nimitz/Ford class is in a league of its own it comes with a hefty price tag and that's not even taking into account the decommissioning costs. Leaving aside understandable pride does the US really need 10 and will it be able to afford 10 indefinitely?

An interesting question, I think as America already has the infrastructure and technology for it Nuclear powered Aircraft carrier that is a cost that already spent and currently no need to walk away from it.

That said I think the US Navy needs to invest in getting the construction cost and operational cost of the Ford class down a bit. Does every section need to be built in Newport? Due to it modular construction could another ship yard in the states do section of the carriers cheaper and ship it there by barge like we did with the QE carrier? Could they adopt the mole system the QE carriers have to get man power down? I sure people with a lot more experience can come up with some better question.

I think the issue is that these things needed to be thought of in the design phase but overall I think the states will stick with the 10 carrier plan.