One of the tricks of the trade in this carrier aviation business is the
steam catapult. USS NIMITZ has four (as do all current US carriers), and
each is capable of accelerating 60,000+ pound aircraft to 140+ knots in less
than two seconds. They work wonderfully well and are extremely reliable.
one of the only problems with steam catapults is. well, the STEAM. This
shot shows one of our directors guiding an F/A-18E Super Hornet (or "Rhino")
onto CAT 2 on the bow. it can be quite a challenge to see through the
residual steam from the previous shot.
Wayne
http://www.soaridaho.com/