The Aviation Magazine Volume 6, Issue 4, May 2015 Special Edition | Page 32
© 2015 Ralf P. Walter
0 to 140 knots (161 mph, 261 kph)
in 2 seconds: must be a real blast!
The four C‐13‐1 steam catapults in‐
corporated into the flight deck can
hurl an aircraft aloft in about 150 feet. There
are four catapults, onboard the Nimitz class
ships, which can launch a plane every 25 sec‐
onds, or simultaneously on the two flight decks
forward and angled. With the blast deflector
shields raised up the “Shooter” (catapult officer)
inside the catapult control pod is about to
launch “100”.