NORTHROP GRUMMAN NEWPORT NEWS CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL CATAPULT TESTING ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER RONALD REAGAN
September 19, 2002 

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Northrop Grumman Newport News successfully conducted testing on the number one catapult of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). This is the second successful catapult to be tested and is an essential part of the process necessary to deliver Reagan to the U.S. Navy.

Photo by: John Whalen, Northrop Grumman Newport News.
 

Northrop Grumman Newport News is working closely with the Ronald Reagan Pre-Commissioning Unit on the catapult testing, which consists of launching large containers called deadloads off the flight deck of the carrier. These deadloads are equal in weight to the planes that will ultimately be launched from Reagan’s flight deck. Testing of all four catapults will be completed later this year.

Photo by: John Whalen, Northrop Grumman Newport News

Nimitz-class aircraft carriers have four steam-powered catapults which launch aircraft from the flight deck of the carrier. These catapults can thrust a 48,000-pound aircraft 300 feet, from zero to 165 miles per hour in two seconds.

Photos by: Chris Oxley, Northrop Grumman Newport News