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Are you referring to the little "bow ramps" that used to be in front of the cats (and angled downward)? They were removed some time ago.

EDIT: the picture does clearly show it's on the angled flight deck part - which does have cats, IIRC. It probably is a bolter, though.

Wicked Pilot wrote:On even further examination, this time on the ship itself, it appears that the vessel does not have two cats on the port side.

AFIAK all US carriers have waist cats on the angle. The 'jagged ends' at the forward limit of the cats are bridle catchers; they have been largely removed from the US carrier fleet due to changes in the shuttle-nosegear linkage such that bridles are no longer required.

As to where the tailhook is, that could be in just behind of and on top of the left gear strut.

The F/A-18 tailhook is mounted too far aft to be obscured by the gear from this angle.

phongn wrote:Are you referring to the little "bow ramps" that used to be in front of the cats (and angled downward)? They were removed some time ago.

EDIT: the picture does clearly show it's on the angled flight deck part - which does have cats, IIRC. It probably is a bolter, though.

Yes, there are two catapults on the angle of every active USN carrier. I don't believe they ever had bridle catchers on more recent vessels.

There is nothing at all wrong with the first photo.

Well goddamnit, I'm not in the goddamn Navy! If I was, then this damn picture wouldn't be driving me so goddamn crazy. Goddamnit, damn Navy!

If you look closely, on the deck behind the Hornet, there are small vapour remants, very small, but they're there. A launch?

If you look closely, on the deck behind the Hornet, there are small vapour remants, very small, but they're there. A launch?

Already established

I think the Sidewinder one is fake though, unless someone confirms it.

Yup, looks like a bolter to me as well, probably a blunder due to his tailhook or brain not functioning. As has been pointed out he hasn't got his hands on the handles as he would in a launch, he's using the landing strip (the bit angled to the side) and not the takeoff cats at the front and his nosegear cat attachment is up. Normal procedure in a carrier landing is to hit full throttle as you hit the deck, just in case you do miss and have to go around. The arrestor wires will stop you anyway,even at full throttle as they're pretty tough. Not real exciting I suppose. Anyone got ANY idea how the tanks got like that???

The tank on the left was probably backing up, and the driver wasn't paying attention...

Vympel wrote:

If you look closely, on the deck behind the Hornet, there are small vapour remants, very small, but they're there. A launch?

Already established

I think the Sidewinder one is fake though, unless someone confirms it.

Someone on a different board confirmed it, sort of. He had a friend who served on the Carl Vinson who told him about the incident.

Sea Skimmer wrote:

phongn wrote:Are you referring to the little "bow ramps" that used to be in front of the cats (and angled downward)? They were removed some time ago.

EDIT: the picture does clearly show it's on the angled flight deck part - which does have cats, IIRC. It probably is a bolter, though.

Yes, there are two catapults on the angle of every active USN carrier. I don't believe they ever had bridle catchers on more recent vessels.

There is nothing at all wrong with the first photo.

But then, why is the nosegear launching thingy not down?