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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:03,129 --> 00:00:05,504 Zdenek: Each one is over a thousand feet long. 2 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,050 Weights almost a hundred thousand tons. 3 00:00:10,261 --> 00:00:11,677 That's a serious elevator. 4 00:00:13,472 --> 00:00:16,098 And costs three and a half billion dollars. 5 00:00:17,301 --> 00:00:18,633 We caught one. 6 00:00:18,644 --> 00:00:19,393 (laughs) 7 00:00:20,637 --> 00:00:22,637 For 40 years, nimitz class aircraft carriers 8 00:00:22,648 --> 00:00:26,224 Have delivered us military might all over the globe. 9 00:00:26,235 --> 00:00:30,404 But now these legendary ships are being phased out, 10 00:00:30,481 --> 00:00:33,565 To be replaced by new carriers. 11 00:00:33,576 --> 00:00:35,317 Before they're decommissioned, 12 00:00:35,327 --> 00:00:38,162 I'm going aboard a flagship vessel. 13 00:00:38,238 --> 00:00:42,583 I never want to sleep under a flight deck again. 14 00:00:42,659 --> 00:00:46,411 So I can uncover the engineering innovations 15 00:00:46,422 --> 00:00:49,506 That allowed this ship to launch, 16 00:00:49,583 --> 00:00:54,503 Land and relaunch more planes, more quickly 17 00:00:54,513 --> 00:00:55,763 Than ever before. 18 00:00:56,757 --> 00:00:59,349 Now that was some serious engineering. 19 00:00:59,426 --> 00:01:03,020 And see what made the nimitz class supercarriers. 20 00:01:08,102 --> 00:01:09,768 I'm chad zdenek. 21 00:01:09,779 --> 00:01:10,769 I spent seven years 22 00:01:10,780 --> 00:01:12,654 Building rocket engines for nasa. 23 00:01:13,774 --> 00:01:16,033 Now I'm taking things apart. 24 00:01:17,036 --> 00:01:21,279 Breaking down giants of engineering piece by piece. 25 00:01:21,290 --> 00:01:25,167 So I can discover what made them legends of their time. 26 00:01:26,712 --> 00:01:29,546 ♪♪ 27 00:01:31,291 --> 00:01:33,291 ♪♪ 28 00:01:33,302 --> 00:01:36,136 Naval base san diego. 29 00:01:36,347 --> 00:01:39,047 Home to this nimitz class aircraft carrier. 30 00:01:39,058 --> 00:01:41,725 One of the us navy's biggest warships 31 00:01:43,554 --> 00:01:48,390 This will be my home for the next five days. 32 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,809 I'm on board the uss carl vinson. 33 00:01:50,820 --> 00:01:52,727 And for the next week I'm going to be working 34 00:01:52,738 --> 00:01:55,405 With engineers, mechanics and sailors, 35 00:01:55,482 --> 00:01:58,242 And show you some incredible pieces of engineering 36 00:01:58,318 --> 00:02:01,203 That keep an aircraft carrier like this operational. 37 00:02:05,492 --> 00:02:09,086 President nixon wrote the check for the carl vinson 38 00:02:09,163 --> 00:02:11,496 Back in 1974 39 00:02:11,507 --> 00:02:13,507 For three billion dollars. 40 00:02:14,668 --> 00:02:19,513 Construction began in 1975 under president ford. 41 00:02:21,100 --> 00:02:25,185 In 1980, the new ship was launched under president carter. 42 00:02:26,438 --> 00:02:31,483 In 1982, it finally entered service under president reagan. 43 00:02:33,770 --> 00:02:37,698 And in 2011, under barack obama's presidency, 44 00:02:37,774 --> 00:02:41,109 The body of osama bin laden was brought on board 45 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:42,327 For burial at sea. 46 00:02:43,780 --> 00:02:47,207 For 40 years, it's been the ultimate symbol 47 00:02:47,284 --> 00:02:49,126 Of american military might. 48 00:02:49,795 --> 00:02:54,039 An enormous, floating, plane launching machine, 49 00:02:54,049 --> 00:02:57,217 Bigger and stronger than anything that came before. 50 00:03:01,140 --> 00:03:05,142 Verrissimo: The carrier fully loaded maxed out at 97,000 tons, 51 00:03:05,219 --> 00:03:07,636 Its a pretty heavy piece of gear, 52 00:03:07,646 --> 00:03:10,230 The entire engineering suite that it takes 53 00:03:10,307 --> 00:03:12,232 To get this ship through the water 54 00:03:12,309 --> 00:03:13,734 Back and forth over 25 years, 55 00:03:13,810 --> 00:03:15,986 It is just an engineering marvel. 56 00:03:17,072 --> 00:03:19,573 Zdenek: Now this giant piece of engineering 57 00:03:19,650 --> 00:03:21,158 Is on it's way out. 58 00:03:21,235 --> 00:03:24,077 One by one, the nimitz class carriers 59 00:03:24,154 --> 00:03:27,664 Will be decommissioned to make way for the ford class 60 00:03:27,741 --> 00:03:30,742 Raising the bar all over again. 61 00:03:30,753 --> 00:03:33,662 But you don't replace a 40 billion dollar 62 00:03:33,672 --> 00:03:36,256 Fleet of aircraft carriers overnight. 63 00:03:36,333 --> 00:03:39,334 That will take 30 years. 64 00:03:39,345 --> 00:03:40,677 In the meantime, 65 00:03:40,754 --> 00:03:43,513 The nimitz ships have to stay on the cutting edge, 66 00:03:43,590 --> 00:03:46,341 With constant upgrades and upkeep 67 00:03:46,352 --> 00:03:49,770 From a highly specialized mechanical crew. 68 00:03:49,846 --> 00:03:53,273 Each one of them trained in the extraordinary engineering 69 00:03:53,350 --> 00:03:54,733 That keeps this ship running. 70 00:03:55,778 --> 00:03:59,020 Now I'm joining them as the ship heads 71 00:03:59,031 --> 00:04:01,990 Into the pacific to undertake a special mission. 72 00:04:03,494 --> 00:04:06,778 Testing pilots on their ability to take off and land 73 00:04:06,789 --> 00:04:10,782 On a carrier, hoping to win their final qualification, 74 00:04:10,793 --> 00:04:14,378 The last step in a naval aviator's basic training. 75 00:04:16,039 --> 00:04:18,456 I'll work with the engineering teams 76 00:04:18,467 --> 00:04:20,458 Above and below deck 77 00:04:20,469 --> 00:04:23,128 To reveal the engineering innovations 78 00:04:23,138 --> 00:04:24,388 That make it all possible. 79 00:04:25,716 --> 00:04:27,808 The incredible catapult system 80 00:04:27,884 --> 00:04:30,686 That can launch a jet in just two seconds. 81 00:04:32,472 --> 00:04:36,057 The mighty elevators, designed to get 35 tons 82 00:04:36,068 --> 00:04:40,320 Of aircraft on and off the deck in seconds. 83 00:04:40,397 --> 00:04:41,563 The arresting system 84 00:04:41,573 --> 00:04:44,733 That uses cables and hydraulics to stop jets 85 00:04:44,743 --> 00:04:48,745 As they scream in at 150 miles an hour. 86 00:04:48,822 --> 00:04:50,998 And the giant flight deck, 87 00:04:51,074 --> 00:04:53,658 Designed to allow more take off and landings 88 00:04:53,669 --> 00:04:55,327 Than ever before. 89 00:04:58,165 --> 00:05:02,342 Day one of my time on the uss carl vinson. 90 00:05:02,553 --> 00:05:05,512 And my first job is one done by every seamen 91 00:05:05,589 --> 00:05:07,306 Who ever served on any ship. 92 00:05:09,268 --> 00:05:11,426 Removing deck debris. 93 00:05:11,437 --> 00:05:14,521 It's gotta be done as regular as clockwork. 94 00:05:14,598 --> 00:05:17,316 And on a carrier it's more important than ever. 95 00:05:20,103 --> 00:05:23,772 So right now were doing the everyday twice a day. 96 00:05:23,782 --> 00:05:26,274 Basically they get everyone on deck 97 00:05:26,285 --> 00:05:29,110 To comb through arms length distance 98 00:05:29,121 --> 00:05:34,115 And they're scouring for any fod, foreign object debris. 99 00:05:34,126 --> 00:05:36,376 When these jets are coming in or taking off 100 00:05:36,453 --> 00:05:38,620 There's so much suction from the engines 101 00:05:38,630 --> 00:05:40,288 That they suck this off of the deck, 102 00:05:40,299 --> 00:05:41,289 Go into the engines 103 00:05:41,300 --> 00:05:43,291 And can cause some serious damage, 104 00:05:43,302 --> 00:05:46,011 So we gotta check it twice a day everyday. 105 00:05:46,555 --> 00:05:49,464 You would think that there would be fod on this deck, 106 00:05:49,475 --> 00:05:51,475 The wind's about 40 miles an hour, 107 00:05:52,386 --> 00:05:55,553 And this is what I've found, a piece of wood, 108 00:05:55,564 --> 00:05:58,482 Little piece of textile material, 109 00:05:58,558 --> 00:06:00,275 But I also found small rock. 110 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,741 The basic job of an aircraft carrier 111 00:06:07,818 --> 00:06:10,327 Is to take planes wherever they're needed 112 00:06:10,404 --> 00:06:12,245 And then launch them into the sky. 113 00:06:13,824 --> 00:06:18,627 On the uss carl vinson, that's done using a giant catapult. 114 00:06:20,172 --> 00:06:23,081 Or maybe not so giant. 115 00:06:23,092 --> 00:06:24,582 At least not from up here 116 00:06:24,593 --> 00:06:27,427 Where all you can see is the two foot shuttle 117 00:06:27,638 --> 00:06:30,055 Sticking out the flight deck like a shark's fin. 118 00:06:32,259 --> 00:06:34,843 Somehow, this tiny piece of steel 119 00:06:34,853 --> 00:06:38,188 Has to fling a 30 ton jet into the sky 120 00:06:38,265 --> 00:06:41,108 At 150 miles an hour. 121 00:06:41,184 --> 00:06:43,768 ♪♪ 122 00:06:43,779 --> 00:06:46,604 The simple but incredible engineering 123 00:06:46,615 --> 00:06:48,523 Behind this launching system 124 00:06:48,534 --> 00:06:51,201 Is the result of a 100 year evolution 125 00:06:51,278 --> 00:06:53,203 Of the aircraft carrier. 126 00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:57,615 That began in 1920 with the uss langley. 127 00:06:57,626 --> 00:06:59,617 It was a coal ship. 128 00:06:59,628 --> 00:07:03,797 Until naval engineers bolted a wooden deck on top, 129 00:07:03,874 --> 00:07:07,801 Converting it to the us navy's first ever aircraft carrier. 130 00:07:09,805 --> 00:07:13,140 Its job, to launch planes into the air 131 00:07:13,216 --> 00:07:15,133 From the middle of the ocean. 132 00:07:15,144 --> 00:07:19,146 Using a runway a little over 500 feet long. 133 00:07:19,222 --> 00:07:23,275 Biplanes like these were made of wood, steel and fabric. 134 00:07:24,394 --> 00:07:26,236 They weighed two and a half tons, 135 00:07:26,313 --> 00:07:29,281 Light enough to launch without the need of a catapult. 136 00:07:30,150 --> 00:07:32,451 A good headwind was all it took. 137 00:07:36,323 --> 00:07:38,239 But a fully fueled, 138 00:07:38,250 --> 00:07:41,543 Fully loaded f18 is 10 times as heavy. 139 00:07:42,496 --> 00:07:46,506 To get these planes into the air in just a few hundred feet, 140 00:07:46,717 --> 00:07:49,259 The nimitz carriers needed huge power. 141 00:07:51,338 --> 00:07:55,140 And a way to deliver it suddenly and at great speed. 142 00:07:56,602 --> 00:07:59,102 I love the solution engineers came up with. 143 00:08:00,514 --> 00:08:02,814 They turned to an age old technology. 144 00:08:03,775 --> 00:08:04,691 Steam. 145 00:08:06,186 --> 00:08:08,770 One of the things I've always been fascinated by 146 00:08:08,780 --> 00:08:10,605 Is engineering innovation, 147 00:08:10,616 --> 00:08:13,608 And steam is a perfect example of that. 148 00:08:13,619 --> 00:08:16,036 It helped us in the industrial revolution. 149 00:08:16,112 --> 00:08:18,788 And now today on the uss carl vinson 150 00:08:18,865 --> 00:08:21,124 We're using it to catapult f18s 151 00:08:21,201 --> 00:08:23,117 Off a flight deck, 152 00:08:23,128 --> 00:08:26,120 And through all that the basic properties of steam, 153 00:08:26,131 --> 00:08:28,131 They've stayed the same. 154 00:08:28,208 --> 00:08:30,300 When water is heated into steam, 155 00:08:30,377 --> 00:08:34,128 It expands in volume over a thousand times. 156 00:08:34,139 --> 00:08:37,048 It is a law of physics that engineers first mastered 157 00:08:37,059 --> 00:08:38,716 In the 18th century, 158 00:08:38,727 --> 00:08:41,353 When they used it to create the piston engine. 159 00:08:42,389 --> 00:08:44,389 Over 300 years later, 160 00:08:44,399 --> 00:08:47,067 Nimitz engineers are using the same principle 161 00:08:47,143 --> 00:08:48,443 On the carl vinson. 162 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,573 I've done a little home engineering of my own 163 00:08:53,650 --> 00:08:55,116 To show you how it works. 164 00:08:56,570 --> 00:08:59,162 This is a pressure cooker and I've modified the lid 165 00:08:59,239 --> 00:09:01,581 By drilling a hole in it and adding a ball valve. 166 00:09:02,659 --> 00:09:05,502 I'm pouring in just a small glassful of water. 167 00:09:06,663 --> 00:09:09,247 Then securing the lid, 168 00:09:09,258 --> 00:09:12,166 And heating it to turn the water to steam. 169 00:09:12,177 --> 00:09:14,752 Which expands and is trapped. 170 00:09:14,763 --> 00:09:17,764 Creating high pressure inside the cooker. 171 00:09:17,841 --> 00:09:20,100 We've got steam, and lets see what happens. 172 00:09:21,761 --> 00:09:22,602 Boom. 173 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:23,562 Instant power. 174 00:09:24,514 --> 00:09:26,022 Enough to drive the piston 175 00:09:26,099 --> 00:09:28,149 On a 19th century steam engine, 176 00:09:29,769 --> 00:09:33,655 Or the catapult on a 20th century aircraft carrier. 177 00:09:36,192 --> 00:09:39,661 The system that runs it is deep below decks. 178 00:09:43,125 --> 00:09:46,626 The start of our steam system all starts right here, 179 00:09:46,837 --> 00:09:48,786 Just beneath us is the power plant, 180 00:09:48,797 --> 00:09:51,372 And all that steam comes up through this giant duct, 181 00:09:51,383 --> 00:09:55,460 And it's actually fed through into our steam fill room, 182 00:09:55,470 --> 00:09:58,713 Right in here, where we've got three control valves 183 00:09:58,724 --> 00:10:01,808 To keep that system pressurized at just the right amount. 184 00:10:03,053 --> 00:10:05,228 Now believe it or not there's three other rooms 185 00:10:05,305 --> 00:10:06,271 Just like this. 186 00:10:07,807 --> 00:10:09,649 What you see here this is only for catapult number two. 187 00:10:09,860 --> 00:10:11,559 The steam for each catapult 188 00:10:11,570 --> 00:10:14,613 Is stored in two giant cylinders and pistons. 189 00:10:15,649 --> 00:10:18,033 Each about as long as a football field. 190 00:10:19,244 --> 00:10:22,746 The pistons are connected to the catapult shuttle on deck. 191 00:10:22,822 --> 00:10:26,407 To launch a plane, the pressure is suddenly released, 192 00:10:26,418 --> 00:10:29,252 Driving the piston and catapult forward 193 00:10:29,329 --> 00:10:31,671 At 150 miles per hour. 194 00:10:32,666 --> 00:10:35,833 There are actually four catapults on board. 195 00:10:35,844 --> 00:10:37,677 Each has its own engine room 196 00:10:37,888 --> 00:10:41,181 And dedicated crew above and below the flight deck. 197 00:10:42,842 --> 00:10:44,517 Otero: Hey stand by real quick. 198 00:10:44,594 --> 00:10:45,760 Hey truman! 199 00:10:45,771 --> 00:10:47,812 Hey, can you turn on the throttle tension? 200 00:10:48,357 --> 00:10:49,514 What you got? 201 00:10:49,524 --> 00:10:50,598 We're at 5-zero. 202 00:10:50,609 --> 00:10:51,691 Copy... 203 00:10:51,768 --> 00:10:52,692 (background noise drowns out dialogue) 204 00:10:52,769 --> 00:10:54,110 Zdenek: When they get the signal, 205 00:10:54,187 --> 00:10:56,104 They fill these pipes with steam 206 00:10:56,114 --> 00:10:58,573 And bring it to pressure arming the catapult. 207 00:11:01,203 --> 00:11:03,194 Then they wait for the signal, 208 00:11:03,205 --> 00:11:07,040 That will shift a 35 ton fighter from stand-still 209 00:11:07,117 --> 00:11:11,044 To 150 miles an hour in just two and half seconds. 210 00:11:12,464 --> 00:11:15,548 It's a system that leaves no room for error, 211 00:11:15,625 --> 00:11:19,460 Which is why it gets tested twice a day, every day. 212 00:11:19,471 --> 00:11:21,796 In just a few minutes I'm going to be able to witness 213 00:11:21,807 --> 00:11:23,556 A no load for the catapult. 214 00:11:23,633 --> 00:11:26,134 It's basically when they test the catapult 215 00:11:26,144 --> 00:11:28,219 Before any day they're doing operations 216 00:11:28,230 --> 00:11:29,637 With no load on it. 217 00:11:29,648 --> 00:11:31,314 This thing's going to fly by us 218 00:11:31,391 --> 00:11:35,318 At about 150 miles an hour and I get to be two feet away. 219 00:11:36,396 --> 00:11:40,407 Pilots' lives depend on this engineering working perfectly, 220 00:11:40,483 --> 00:11:44,402 Which is why crew go through this routine so carefully. 221 00:11:44,413 --> 00:11:46,746 That's why you wanna stay behind the foul line. 222 00:11:47,657 --> 00:11:48,998 So we're loading up right now, 223 00:11:49,075 --> 00:11:52,252 We're bringing back the catapult. 224 00:11:52,328 --> 00:11:53,753 This is a safety line, a foul line, 225 00:11:53,830 --> 00:11:56,172 And everyone's gotta make sure 226 00:11:56,249 --> 00:11:58,082 That they're standing behind it, 227 00:11:58,093 --> 00:12:01,344 And then we're going to launch this all the way down. 228 00:12:01,421 --> 00:12:03,805 ♪♪ 229 00:12:05,675 --> 00:12:08,601 (mumbled yelling) 230 00:12:10,346 --> 00:12:11,229 Wow. 231 00:12:16,269 --> 00:12:18,445 (laughs) 232 00:12:28,623 --> 00:12:31,124 Now that was some serious engineering. 233 00:12:31,201 --> 00:12:35,044 This catapult, bowling by at 150 miles an hour 234 00:12:35,121 --> 00:12:38,289 And at the end all you see is a bunch of steam coming up 235 00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:41,125 And then a big splash which is the water brake 236 00:12:41,136 --> 00:12:42,802 At the end of the deck. 237 00:12:43,013 --> 00:12:46,473 The no load tests are complete, and everything is ready. 238 00:12:46,549 --> 00:12:50,384 Now this trainee pilot is about to launch his aircraft 239 00:12:50,395 --> 00:12:52,220 For the first time. 240 00:12:52,230 --> 00:12:55,556 And be tested on whether he's got what it takes. 241 00:12:58,394 --> 00:13:03,064 It's just the first in five days of tests and evaluations. 242 00:13:03,074 --> 00:13:05,992 At the end, he's hoping to have done enough to win 243 00:13:06,069 --> 00:13:08,620 His aircraft carrier pilot qualification. 244 00:13:10,156 --> 00:13:11,748 Once the catapult fires, 245 00:13:11,825 --> 00:13:14,501 The pilot needs to accelerate explosively 246 00:13:14,577 --> 00:13:15,752 To get the plane airborne. 247 00:13:23,753 --> 00:13:26,087 Lanham: There is a lot that could go wrong on the deck, 248 00:13:26,097 --> 00:13:27,096 We talk about it, 249 00:13:27,173 --> 00:13:29,182 We brief to those emergencies 250 00:13:29,259 --> 00:13:31,434 And you have to trust your training, 251 00:13:31,511 --> 00:13:34,604 As well as all the training of the flight deck crew 252 00:13:34,681 --> 00:13:37,023 To do their job and to do it well. 253 00:13:38,026 --> 00:13:40,777 Zdenek: The pilot's launch is controlled from a pod 254 00:13:40,854 --> 00:13:43,196 Built into the deck known as the bubble. 255 00:13:44,115 --> 00:13:48,493 Once the catapult fires it's impossible to abort take off. 256 00:13:50,539 --> 00:13:53,281 The pilot's along for the ride. 257 00:13:53,291 --> 00:13:56,450 We're in the bubble and we're launching off of catapult four, 258 00:13:56,461 --> 00:13:59,170 And the wings are literally coming right over our head. 259 00:14:00,632 --> 00:14:04,458 Inside, the catapult officer, or shooter 260 00:14:04,469 --> 00:14:06,469 Makes the precise calculations 261 00:14:06,546 --> 00:14:08,555 Necessary for a perfect launch. 262 00:14:10,141 --> 00:14:14,135 Each plane's standard weight is added to its load. 263 00:14:14,145 --> 00:14:15,303 Butterfield: Confirm on four. 264 00:14:15,313 --> 00:14:16,804 No lights, minus four. 265 00:14:16,815 --> 00:14:19,399 Thumbs, thumbs, head's steady, deck steady, no interval. 266 00:14:19,475 --> 00:14:21,734 So what we're doin' is we're taking the weight 267 00:14:21,811 --> 00:14:23,069 From the aircraft, 268 00:14:24,155 --> 00:14:26,314 And then we put it into our charts to get a setting 269 00:14:26,324 --> 00:14:28,065 For the catapult. 270 00:14:28,076 --> 00:14:31,160 Zdenek: Next, the plane is harnessed to the catapult. 271 00:14:31,237 --> 00:14:32,662 Butterfield: Once everything is good there we take tension. 272 00:14:32,739 --> 00:14:34,080 So I hit that bridle tension button, 273 00:14:34,157 --> 00:14:35,164 And that's when the shuttle moves forward 274 00:14:35,241 --> 00:14:37,158 And locks into that launch bar. 275 00:14:37,168 --> 00:14:38,409 That's when we go to military power. 276 00:14:39,337 --> 00:14:40,336 That's the pilot's signal to spool that power 277 00:14:41,006 --> 00:14:42,046 And start getting his engines ready. 278 00:14:44,676 --> 00:14:46,759 Zdenek: Below deck, the crew sets 279 00:14:46,836 --> 00:14:48,261 The correct steam pressure. 280 00:14:49,264 --> 00:14:53,558 For an f18, that's 520 pounds per square inch. 281 00:14:57,347 --> 00:14:59,105 Butterfield: Once he's good he gives that salute. 282 00:14:59,182 --> 00:15:00,773 And that's when I call salute final, 283 00:15:00,850 --> 00:15:02,108 Push our final ready button. 284 00:15:02,185 --> 00:15:03,768 That gets everything ready into the final status, 285 00:15:03,778 --> 00:15:05,153 Ready to fire the catapult. 286 00:15:06,606 --> 00:15:09,365 From there we just lift the lid and hit fire 287 00:15:09,442 --> 00:15:10,199 And they go. 288 00:15:12,287 --> 00:15:13,161 Salute final. 289 00:15:14,122 --> 00:15:15,279 Five twenty point four. 290 00:15:16,124 --> 00:15:16,197 I got lights lights no lights minus five. 291 00:15:17,626 --> 00:15:18,783 Thumbs, thumbs, head steady, deck steady, no interval. 292 00:15:19,202 --> 00:15:21,044 Zdenek: For this pilot, the next two seconds 293 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,704 All depend on the coordination of his crew 294 00:15:23,715 --> 00:15:25,590 And some precise engineering. 295 00:15:27,794 --> 00:15:28,676 Butterfield: Fire. 296 00:15:35,051 --> 00:15:36,643 Zdenek: Hours of training, 297 00:15:36,719 --> 00:15:38,061 A highly skilled crew, 298 00:15:38,137 --> 00:15:40,730 And incredible engineering 299 00:15:40,807 --> 00:15:43,691 Have all come together for another safe launch. 300 00:15:45,144 --> 00:15:48,062 It's an experience pilots never forget, 301 00:15:48,073 --> 00:15:51,574 Going from zero to 150 miles per hour 302 00:15:51,651 --> 00:15:53,576 In just two and half seconds. 303 00:15:53,653 --> 00:15:56,746 Lanham: Before your first catapult shot, you're anxious, 304 00:15:56,823 --> 00:15:58,581 You've been told what to expect, 305 00:15:58,658 --> 00:16:00,408 But it's way cooler than that. 306 00:16:00,418 --> 00:16:02,085 It's the best ride in the world. 307 00:16:09,094 --> 00:16:11,419 Zdenek: The pilots continue to launch. 308 00:16:11,429 --> 00:16:13,504 Relying on age old steam 309 00:16:13,515 --> 00:16:17,141 To get their state of the art planes safely into the sky. 310 00:16:19,178 --> 00:16:22,271 But this engineering is finally being replaced 311 00:16:22,348 --> 00:16:25,191 As nimitz class carriers are decommissioned. 312 00:16:28,438 --> 00:16:31,439 Their replacements, the ford class, 313 00:16:31,449 --> 00:16:34,242 Will be equipped with an all new catapult system. 314 00:16:35,286 --> 00:16:39,706 Here they test one on an 80,000 pound dead load. 315 00:16:39,782 --> 00:16:43,200 Instead of steam, it will use electricity 316 00:16:43,211 --> 00:16:45,003 To create magnetic power. 317 00:16:47,623 --> 00:16:51,551 This system will require far less maintenance, 318 00:16:51,627 --> 00:16:54,554 But deliver 30 percent more power. 319 00:16:54,630 --> 00:16:58,016 With 20 times greater efficiency than steam. 320 00:17:01,813 --> 00:17:03,637 Meaning the new carriers 321 00:17:03,648 --> 00:17:07,025 Will be able to launch even bigger planes even faster. 322 00:17:14,567 --> 00:17:17,160 But until the fords finally launch, 323 00:17:17,236 --> 00:17:20,246 Daily maintenance is an essential part of life 324 00:17:20,323 --> 00:17:22,331 On the 40 year old carl vinson. 325 00:17:25,495 --> 00:17:27,587 This is a jet blast deflector. 326 00:17:29,165 --> 00:17:32,759 It redirects the high energy exhaust from jet engines 327 00:17:32,835 --> 00:17:34,552 To prevent damage and injury. 328 00:17:35,171 --> 00:17:37,171 So it has to be strong enough 329 00:17:37,182 --> 00:17:38,765 To withstand the intense heat 330 00:17:38,841 --> 00:17:41,350 From jet engines at full thrust, 331 00:17:42,270 --> 00:17:45,104 And to protect crew from flying debris 332 00:17:45,181 --> 00:17:46,597 When the plane is launched. 333 00:17:49,194 --> 00:17:52,070 Today we're here to make sure it's in perfect condition. 334 00:17:54,449 --> 00:17:56,199 Man: Make sure you're getting it around 335 00:17:56,275 --> 00:17:57,191 The o-ring right here. 336 00:17:57,202 --> 00:17:58,034 Zdenek: Yep. 337 00:17:58,111 --> 00:17:58,868 Man: But then get it down here. 338 00:17:58,945 --> 00:17:59,777 And then you gonna wipe it. 339 00:17:59,788 --> 00:18:01,695 So you put more lube right here. 340 00:18:01,706 --> 00:18:02,705 Zdenek: Okay. 341 00:18:02,782 --> 00:18:05,374 ♪♪ 342 00:18:09,714 --> 00:18:12,289 All right, as I'm learning with the navy, 343 00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:14,634 Everything is twice a day, everyday. 344 00:18:14,710 --> 00:18:16,803 We gotta get these safety locks in place 345 00:18:16,879 --> 00:18:19,797 And then we're wiping down each of these pistons 346 00:18:19,808 --> 00:18:21,307 And applying new oil. 347 00:18:22,477 --> 00:18:24,552 The reason is because if the o-rings inside got too hot, 348 00:18:24,562 --> 00:18:26,145 They would blow and we'd have 349 00:18:26,356 --> 00:18:28,147 A major maintenance issue on our hands. 350 00:18:29,734 --> 00:18:32,443 ♪♪ 351 00:18:39,819 --> 00:18:43,246 The carl vinson's four incredible launch systems 352 00:18:43,322 --> 00:18:47,083 Means the crew can catapult a jet every 30 seconds 353 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,545 To perform air strikes over 400 miles away. 354 00:18:51,422 --> 00:18:55,249 That made america's cold war adversaries nervous. 355 00:18:55,260 --> 00:18:56,500 Reagan: Would the soviets ever use 356 00:18:56,511 --> 00:18:58,678 Their formidable military power, 357 00:18:58,754 --> 00:19:02,840 Well again can we afford to believe they won't. 358 00:19:02,851 --> 00:19:05,017 Zdenek: And suspicious. 359 00:19:05,094 --> 00:19:09,522 (speaking in foreign language) 360 00:19:09,599 --> 00:19:12,766 Zdenek: On January 24th 1982, 361 00:19:12,777 --> 00:19:15,603 Less than 48 hours after the carl vinson 362 00:19:15,613 --> 00:19:19,115 Began its first sea trials off the coast of virginia, 363 00:19:19,192 --> 00:19:22,743 Russian spy planes flashed onto the ship's radar. 364 00:19:24,780 --> 00:19:27,707 The airforce scrambled 6 jets. 365 00:19:29,368 --> 00:19:31,452 They located two bear surveillance 366 00:19:31,462 --> 00:19:34,005 Aircraft with cameras 367 00:19:37,793 --> 00:19:40,461 Sent up from a russian airbase in cuba 368 00:19:40,471 --> 00:19:43,380 To spy on america's latest super weapon 369 00:19:43,391 --> 00:19:46,100 And test how fast they could launch planes. 370 00:19:47,136 --> 00:19:51,480 The american f15's forced the soviet planes to retreat. 371 00:19:56,646 --> 00:19:58,654 It would become a familiar pattern. 372 00:20:00,658 --> 00:20:03,492 ♪♪ 373 00:20:08,491 --> 00:20:10,333 In its first 18 months, 374 00:20:10,409 --> 00:20:14,587 The carl vinson had to deploy its planes 28 times 375 00:20:14,664 --> 00:20:17,256 To chase off soviet surveillance aircraft 376 00:20:17,333 --> 00:20:20,593 Intent on uncovering the new ship's secrets. 377 00:20:25,091 --> 00:20:26,674 35 years later, 378 00:20:26,684 --> 00:20:28,759 The carl vinson's air wing 379 00:20:28,770 --> 00:20:30,770 Remains its most effective weapon. 380 00:20:32,515 --> 00:20:34,273 The nimitz class was designed 381 00:20:34,350 --> 00:20:38,110 To carry more aircraft than ever before. 382 00:20:38,187 --> 00:20:41,105 More than 70, split between the flight deck 383 00:20:41,115 --> 00:20:42,198 And the hangar bay. 384 00:20:43,117 --> 00:20:44,358 The problem is, 385 00:20:44,369 --> 00:20:47,111 How do you get a 60,000-pound aircraft 386 00:20:47,121 --> 00:20:50,039 Up to the flight deck to take off? 387 00:20:50,116 --> 00:20:51,332 The answer, 388 00:20:52,710 --> 00:20:55,169 The biggest elevator I've ever seen. 389 00:20:59,801 --> 00:21:04,303 The carl vinson is a plane launching machine, literally. 390 00:21:04,380 --> 00:21:07,798 But there's another big part of an aircraft carrier's job. 391 00:21:07,809 --> 00:21:10,309 That would be the actual carrying. 392 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,645 And as I'm about to see, lifting. 393 00:21:12,722 --> 00:21:15,472 The next engineering system we're going to take a look at 394 00:21:15,483 --> 00:21:18,567 Uses a huge amount of brute force and sheer power 395 00:21:18,644 --> 00:21:21,237 To lift the aircraft on and off a flight deck. 396 00:21:21,314 --> 00:21:22,571 Its known as the elevators 397 00:21:22,648 --> 00:21:25,157 And I wanna show you how it works. 398 00:21:26,744 --> 00:21:29,161 On a nimitz-class aircraft carrier, 399 00:21:29,238 --> 00:21:31,330 There are four giant elevators 400 00:21:31,541 --> 00:21:33,249 Surrounding the aircraft hangar. 401 00:21:34,585 --> 00:21:36,160 So which elevator is this? 402 00:21:36,170 --> 00:21:38,662 Chamberlain: This is aircraft elevator number three. 403 00:21:38,673 --> 00:21:39,797 Zdenek: It has a huge opening. 404 00:21:41,167 --> 00:21:42,833 It has to be big. 405 00:21:42,844 --> 00:21:45,678 It's designed to perform the near-impossible. 406 00:21:47,506 --> 00:21:51,508 Lift fully loaded planes on and off the flight deck 407 00:21:51,519 --> 00:21:53,260 At high speed, 408 00:21:53,271 --> 00:21:56,814 While the vessel pitches in strong winds and high waves. 409 00:21:59,518 --> 00:22:01,018 The elevator is really just 410 00:22:01,029 --> 00:22:04,271 A massive 4000 square foot platform, 411 00:22:04,282 --> 00:22:07,608 Able to fit seamlessly into the hangars below 412 00:22:07,618 --> 00:22:09,160 And the flight deck above. 413 00:22:11,039 --> 00:22:12,705 How heavy is the whole platform? 414 00:22:12,782 --> 00:22:16,283 Chamberlain: The platform itself is 190,000 pounds. 415 00:22:16,294 --> 00:22:18,377 Zdenek: That's a serious elevator. 416 00:22:18,588 --> 00:22:20,120 And how much can it lift? 417 00:22:20,131 --> 00:22:22,381 Chamberlain: It can lift 130,000 pounds. 418 00:22:22,458 --> 00:22:24,625 Zdenek: So, to give me an idea of what is 419 00:22:24,635 --> 00:22:26,794 130,000 pounds worth of gear. 420 00:22:26,804 --> 00:22:28,137 Give me an example of that. 421 00:22:28,214 --> 00:22:32,132 Chamberlain: It's easily over two fully loaded f18s. 422 00:22:32,143 --> 00:22:34,727 ♪♪ 423 00:22:40,559 --> 00:22:43,235 Zdenek: Of course, this parking lot is often floating 424 00:22:43,312 --> 00:22:44,645 In a war zone. 425 00:22:44,655 --> 00:22:46,814 So it needs to do its lifting fast, 426 00:22:46,824 --> 00:22:50,242 And the nimitz class could do it faster than ever before 427 00:22:50,319 --> 00:22:52,661 At 135 feet per minute. 428 00:22:53,664 --> 00:22:55,790 It's raised and lowered by cable, 429 00:22:56,826 --> 00:22:59,460 But they get their power from below decks. 430 00:23:00,329 --> 00:23:02,671 And another special piece of engineering. 431 00:23:04,675 --> 00:23:06,333 Chamberlain: So welcome. 432 00:23:06,344 --> 00:23:07,510 This is the lower level 433 00:23:07,586 --> 00:23:10,096 Of the aircraft elevator machinery room. 434 00:23:10,172 --> 00:23:12,348 Down here is where we create all our pressure. 435 00:23:15,594 --> 00:23:18,104 Zdenek: Those 20 cables that are lifting the elevator, 436 00:23:18,180 --> 00:23:21,273 They all end up right here at this anchor point. 437 00:23:21,350 --> 00:23:23,767 They wrap around this giant pulley system, 438 00:23:23,778 --> 00:23:25,444 Or shiv system, 439 00:23:25,655 --> 00:23:27,521 And this is controlled by the three pistons 440 00:23:27,532 --> 00:23:29,022 On the back side. 441 00:23:29,033 --> 00:23:31,784 The cables get their enormous power and speed 442 00:23:31,861 --> 00:23:36,196 From a piece of engineering known as an accumulator. 443 00:23:36,207 --> 00:23:38,457 It's a device that can store energy, 444 00:23:38,668 --> 00:23:41,168 And then release it on demand suddenly. 445 00:23:42,455 --> 00:23:44,797 Basically the accumulator is a cylinder 446 00:23:44,874 --> 00:23:46,382 Filled with compressed air. 447 00:23:47,385 --> 00:23:51,295 Then hydraulic fluid is pumped in at high pressure. 448 00:23:51,305 --> 00:23:53,639 Compressing the air even further. 449 00:23:53,716 --> 00:23:55,641 As soon as the elevator is engaged, 450 00:23:55,718 --> 00:23:57,518 A valve releases the pressure. 451 00:23:59,647 --> 00:24:02,806 The compressed air expands instantly, 452 00:24:02,817 --> 00:24:05,734 Forcing the hydraulic fluid out of the cylinder 453 00:24:05,811 --> 00:24:08,228 To push a giant piston forward. 454 00:24:08,239 --> 00:24:11,240 That powers pulleys that lift the elevator 455 00:24:11,317 --> 00:24:15,235 And its 130,000 pound load three decks high 456 00:24:15,246 --> 00:24:17,204 In just 15 seconds. 457 00:24:19,083 --> 00:24:21,241 It's amazing to think that all that pressure 458 00:24:21,252 --> 00:24:22,826 Inside the accumulator, 459 00:24:22,837 --> 00:24:26,747 When its released it can lift an entire load on the elevator 460 00:24:26,757 --> 00:24:31,469 And the elevator itself for a total of over 300,000 pounds. 461 00:24:35,341 --> 00:24:37,266 Like everything else on this ship, 462 00:24:37,343 --> 00:24:39,435 The elevator takes a lot of loving, 463 00:24:39,512 --> 00:24:43,272 And greasing, below decks and up top. 464 00:24:43,349 --> 00:24:45,265 There's so much to elements once you're out at sea, 465 00:24:45,276 --> 00:24:48,268 Whether it's the salt water, the fumes from the planes, 466 00:24:48,279 --> 00:24:50,437 The debris, you have the wind coming in here 467 00:24:50,448 --> 00:24:51,688 And blowing things around. 468 00:24:51,699 --> 00:24:54,024 There's so much that can get into these locks, 469 00:24:54,035 --> 00:24:57,453 That it needs to be cleaned on a very regular basis. 470 00:24:57,530 --> 00:24:59,371 So this is like arts and crafts. 471 00:24:59,448 --> 00:25:01,290 Navy style. 472 00:25:01,367 --> 00:25:03,617 The wear and tear is relentless. 473 00:25:03,628 --> 00:25:05,544 Time to get my oil can out again. 474 00:25:07,298 --> 00:25:09,790 Yeah, it's interesting, the one thing that hasn't changed 475 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,760 Over centuries of sailing is grease and oil. 476 00:25:14,764 --> 00:25:16,630 Constant maintenance and repair 477 00:25:16,641 --> 00:25:20,059 Is critical to the effectiveness of this super weapon. 478 00:25:23,314 --> 00:25:26,065 The carl vinson was commissioned and launched 479 00:25:26,141 --> 00:25:27,483 During the cold war, 480 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:29,068 When america needed a ship 481 00:25:29,144 --> 00:25:31,570 That could respond to any eventuality, 482 00:25:31,781 --> 00:25:35,407 And survive at sea for as long as necessary. 483 00:25:35,484 --> 00:25:37,159 But that takes enormous energy. 484 00:25:38,788 --> 00:25:40,746 America's biggest ever warship 485 00:25:40,823 --> 00:25:44,250 Needed the world's most potent source of power. 486 00:25:44,326 --> 00:25:46,252 Nuclear fuel. 487 00:25:46,328 --> 00:25:49,246 Hidden in the bowels of the uss carl vinson 488 00:25:49,257 --> 00:25:52,416 Are some amazing technological innovations. 489 00:25:52,426 --> 00:25:55,427 The ship's nuclear-powered reactors. 490 00:25:55,504 --> 00:25:57,763 Of the 5000 on board, 491 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:00,507 Only a highly specialized mechanical crew 492 00:26:00,518 --> 00:26:02,601 Are allowed anywhere near it. 493 00:26:02,678 --> 00:26:04,845 That's how secret they are, 494 00:26:04,855 --> 00:26:06,647 And I'm definitely not one of them. 495 00:26:07,441 --> 00:26:10,267 What I have learned is that there are two of them. 496 00:26:10,278 --> 00:26:13,520 They heat water to generate the high pressure steam 497 00:26:13,531 --> 00:26:15,689 That powers the launch system. 498 00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:18,191 They also turn giant turbines. 499 00:26:18,202 --> 00:26:22,446 Those spin generators to deliver electrical power 500 00:26:22,456 --> 00:26:24,415 To every system on the ship. 501 00:26:25,534 --> 00:26:29,628 The turbines also rotate four giant screw propellers, 502 00:26:29,839 --> 00:26:33,290 To create more than 280,000 horsepower 503 00:26:33,301 --> 00:26:36,385 And drive the ship forward at 30 knots. 504 00:26:36,462 --> 00:26:40,514 These reactors can run the ship for 25 years. 505 00:26:43,811 --> 00:26:46,470 But 25 years of power doesn't mean much 506 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,356 Unless the rest of the ship is also self sufficient. 507 00:26:50,476 --> 00:26:53,235 Break downs, failures, repairs. 508 00:26:53,312 --> 00:26:55,988 All are dealt with on board by the crew. 509 00:26:59,577 --> 00:27:01,410 Here, in the machine room, 510 00:27:01,487 --> 00:27:04,571 They have the technology to repair and rebuild 511 00:27:04,582 --> 00:27:07,082 Almost any part of the ship. 512 00:27:07,159 --> 00:27:10,252 ♪♪ 513 00:27:10,329 --> 00:27:12,588 Ward: So really what were doing here on the carl vinson, 514 00:27:12,665 --> 00:27:15,415 Is the name of the game is adapt and overcome, 515 00:27:15,426 --> 00:27:19,086 We're always adapting to whatever breaks. 516 00:27:19,096 --> 00:27:21,013 It's never the same things. 517 00:27:21,090 --> 00:27:23,015 You think about how old the ship is. 518 00:27:23,092 --> 00:27:26,093 A lot of those things that break those companies 519 00:27:26,103 --> 00:27:27,594 Don't exist anymore, 520 00:27:28,689 --> 00:27:31,190 So there's not a lot of ways to get the parts that we need, 521 00:27:31,266 --> 00:27:33,433 And that's where all these guys come in. 522 00:27:33,444 --> 00:27:35,277 All the advanced things that I'm showing you today 523 00:27:35,354 --> 00:27:36,603 That were making, 524 00:27:36,614 --> 00:27:39,031 The machines are older than you and I combined. 525 00:27:40,284 --> 00:27:42,442 Zdenek: The corrosive effects of sea-water 526 00:27:42,453 --> 00:27:44,528 Take a toll on every ship. 527 00:27:44,538 --> 00:27:48,040 So it's no surprise repairs on the carl vinson 528 00:27:48,117 --> 00:27:49,667 Often start with melting metal. 529 00:27:50,619 --> 00:27:53,295 ♪♪ 530 00:27:59,136 --> 00:28:01,378 This steel is actually really common on a carrier. 531 00:28:01,389 --> 00:28:03,722 Its used for a lot of the decks and bulk heads. 532 00:28:03,933 --> 00:28:05,465 Its called 10-pound plate 533 00:28:05,476 --> 00:28:08,802 Because it weighs 10 pounds per square foot. 534 00:28:08,813 --> 00:28:10,145 This piece is actually going to be used 535 00:28:11,148 --> 00:28:13,607 To repair a rusted out section on the second deck. 536 00:28:14,985 --> 00:28:17,736 It's not always as simple as patching a hole. 537 00:28:17,813 --> 00:28:20,072 This replacement part needs to be machined 538 00:28:20,149 --> 00:28:21,657 To exactly the right size. 539 00:28:24,495 --> 00:28:26,662 Allen: What you're going do now is you're gonna drive this up 540 00:28:26,739 --> 00:28:30,332 To where it's close to the edge of the material, 541 00:28:30,409 --> 00:28:34,411 Not too much, just right, you gotta bump it, 542 00:28:34,422 --> 00:28:37,414 'til you just touch off material, knock off. 543 00:28:37,425 --> 00:28:38,465 Zdenek: Okay. 544 00:28:42,671 --> 00:28:44,421 Allen: See that small circle go, 545 00:28:44,432 --> 00:28:46,673 That's how you know you're there. 546 00:28:46,684 --> 00:28:49,351 Boom, alright now you can back this up all the way 547 00:28:49,428 --> 00:28:50,352 And you're out of the way, 548 00:28:50,429 --> 00:28:51,520 And you're good. 549 00:28:51,597 --> 00:28:52,646 You just did a facing cut, turn it off. 550 00:28:53,691 --> 00:28:55,107 There you go. 551 00:28:55,184 --> 00:28:56,099 Zdenek: That's not bad. 552 00:28:56,110 --> 00:28:56,734 Allen: Pretty nice, right. 553 00:28:57,778 --> 00:28:59,027 Any piece that normally comes through, 554 00:29:00,114 --> 00:29:01,354 Somebody said can you just take little bit off, 555 00:29:01,365 --> 00:29:03,607 Just like let's say a hair? 556 00:29:03,617 --> 00:29:08,537 To my memory I think a hair is 0.003 of an inch. 557 00:29:09,999 --> 00:29:11,031 That's pretty small. 558 00:29:11,041 --> 00:29:13,116 And in our world, 003, 559 00:29:13,127 --> 00:29:16,211 That could make a major difference in the piece. 560 00:29:16,288 --> 00:29:17,287 Zdenek: The engineering team 561 00:29:17,298 --> 00:29:19,631 Doesn't just make new parts here. 562 00:29:19,708 --> 00:29:22,542 They can repair any part on board, 563 00:29:22,553 --> 00:29:24,461 Including aircraft, 564 00:29:24,472 --> 00:29:29,132 Which can account for up to 30,000 repair jobs a year. 565 00:29:29,143 --> 00:29:33,479 Together with the ship's 25 year supply of nuclear energy, 566 00:29:33,555 --> 00:29:37,390 This versatile maintenance crew make the uss carl vinson 567 00:29:37,401 --> 00:29:40,235 The most self sufficient warship afloat, 568 00:29:40,312 --> 00:29:43,697 Able to operate in the most remote corners of the world. 569 00:29:47,152 --> 00:29:48,660 Like the arctic circle. 570 00:29:50,664 --> 00:29:55,751 In 1986, the carl vinson was deployed in the bering sea. 571 00:29:56,245 --> 00:29:58,796 Just 60 miles from the soviet union. 572 00:30:00,341 --> 00:30:03,425 Conditions here are some of the harshest in the world. 573 00:30:05,095 --> 00:30:09,848 Ice, fog, rolling seas, 574 00:30:10,059 --> 00:30:14,177 Make maintaining open supply lines almost impossible. 575 00:30:14,188 --> 00:30:17,097 And landing a plane treacherous. 576 00:30:17,107 --> 00:30:19,441 No aircraft carrier had deployed here 577 00:30:19,518 --> 00:30:20,692 Since world war ii. 578 00:30:22,354 --> 00:30:25,272 Until the carl vinson. 579 00:30:25,282 --> 00:30:28,275 Tracking the movements of soviet submarines 580 00:30:28,285 --> 00:30:30,035 Right on the russians' doorstep. 581 00:30:31,539 --> 00:30:34,531 The carl vinson proved the nimitz carriers 582 00:30:34,542 --> 00:30:37,292 Were the most independent warships in the world. 583 00:30:37,369 --> 00:30:40,212 And that, now, nowhere was out of reach 584 00:30:40,289 --> 00:30:42,130 Of american airpower. 585 00:30:44,301 --> 00:30:47,010 ♪♪ 586 00:30:50,215 --> 00:30:52,307 Take offs and landings have been continuing 587 00:30:52,384 --> 00:30:53,350 Throughout the night. 588 00:30:57,806 --> 00:30:59,222 (groans) 589 00:30:59,233 --> 00:31:00,190 5:30. 590 00:31:02,570 --> 00:31:06,738 I never want to sleep under a flight deck again. 591 00:31:08,567 --> 00:31:12,327 I've seen and heard the extraordinary engineering 592 00:31:12,404 --> 00:31:14,663 Involved in launching a plane. 593 00:31:14,740 --> 00:31:17,499 But that's only half the job of an aircraft carrier. 594 00:31:19,411 --> 00:31:22,504 It's one thing to launch an aircraft off of a carrier, 595 00:31:22,581 --> 00:31:24,006 But its just as important 596 00:31:24,082 --> 00:31:27,426 To make sure it lands back safely in just three seconds. 597 00:31:27,502 --> 00:31:30,762 To do that we use some wire rope, hydraulics, 598 00:31:30,839 --> 00:31:32,598 And some pretty neat engineering. 599 00:31:33,759 --> 00:31:36,685 In the early days, engineers used a cable 600 00:31:36,762 --> 00:31:39,104 Connected to sand bags on pulleys 601 00:31:39,181 --> 00:31:41,607 To slow the plane and stop it. 602 00:31:43,185 --> 00:31:44,276 Most of the time. 603 00:31:45,529 --> 00:31:47,988 The set up is basically the same today. 604 00:31:48,782 --> 00:31:52,534 Four two inch wires run across the landing deck. 605 00:31:53,787 --> 00:31:56,196 They're called arresting cables, 606 00:31:56,206 --> 00:31:58,698 And are designed to snag the plane's tail hook 607 00:31:58,709 --> 00:32:02,461 And bring it to a hard stop in just two seconds. 608 00:32:05,132 --> 00:32:07,791 But to stop a modern 30 ton jet 609 00:32:07,801 --> 00:32:10,010 You need a lot more than sandbags. 610 00:32:11,138 --> 00:32:14,714 Engineers that designed the nimitz came up with a solution. 611 00:32:14,725 --> 00:32:16,642 Like the catapult's shuttle, 612 00:32:16,718 --> 00:32:19,052 The cables are just the visible part 613 00:32:19,063 --> 00:32:21,054 Of a much larger system. 614 00:32:21,065 --> 00:32:23,482 It all happens just under the flight deck, 615 00:32:23,558 --> 00:32:25,058 In the arresting gear room. 616 00:32:25,069 --> 00:32:27,402 So one of things I've noticed is the flight deck, 617 00:32:27,479 --> 00:32:30,072 They get all the glory up there, right? 618 00:32:30,148 --> 00:32:31,314 The planes coming in, 619 00:32:31,325 --> 00:32:33,233 The tail hook could grab the arresting wire, 620 00:32:33,243 --> 00:32:34,567 And smoke everywhere. 621 00:32:34,578 --> 00:32:36,244 For me as an engineer 622 00:32:36,321 --> 00:32:38,747 This is the heart of how it really happens. 623 00:32:38,824 --> 00:32:39,748 Lara: Yes, it is. 624 00:32:39,825 --> 00:32:41,333 Zdenek: This is amazing down here. 625 00:32:41,410 --> 00:32:43,576 Lara: The engine operator is always monitoring to ensure 626 00:32:43,587 --> 00:32:45,420 That the proper temperatures pressures 627 00:32:45,497 --> 00:32:47,664 And the actual machinery is working properly. 628 00:32:47,675 --> 00:32:48,840 Zdenek: Wow. 629 00:32:48,917 --> 00:32:49,591 Lara: There's a lot of work that's involved 630 00:32:49,668 --> 00:32:51,167 Down below decks, 631 00:32:51,178 --> 00:32:53,253 And its very important that we do that job the right way, 632 00:32:53,263 --> 00:32:54,763 'cause you never know what's gonna happen, 633 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:56,256 And the pilots have to come home. 634 00:32:56,266 --> 00:32:57,265 Zdenek: Yeah, yeah. 635 00:32:58,769 --> 00:33:01,103 At its heart of the arresting system 636 00:33:01,179 --> 00:33:03,596 Is another giant accumulator. 637 00:33:03,607 --> 00:33:07,025 Unlike on the elevator, it's not designed for speed. 638 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:11,771 Instead, this accumulator is engineered 639 00:33:11,782 --> 00:33:15,033 To slow down a plane by creating resistance. 640 00:33:16,286 --> 00:33:19,612 The huge cylinder is filled with 300 gallons 641 00:33:19,623 --> 00:33:23,667 Of hydraulic fluid and connected to a giant piston. 642 00:33:25,129 --> 00:33:26,619 Let me show you. 643 00:33:26,630 --> 00:33:29,122 You can see under here is the piston. 644 00:33:29,133 --> 00:33:31,299 Most pistons might be half an inch, one inch, 645 00:33:31,376 --> 00:33:34,052 Maybe a two inch piston on heavy machinery. 646 00:33:34,129 --> 00:33:37,556 This piston is 18 inches in diameter. 647 00:33:37,632 --> 00:33:40,717 When the plane's tail hook grabs the cable on the deck, 648 00:33:40,728 --> 00:33:43,136 It drives the piston forward, 649 00:33:43,147 --> 00:33:46,473 Forcing all the hydraulic fluid through a small hole 650 00:33:46,483 --> 00:33:48,308 Inside the cylinder. 651 00:33:48,318 --> 00:33:51,403 That hole is only half an inch wide. 652 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:54,448 The back up of fluid creates enormous resistance. 653 00:33:55,492 --> 00:33:59,494 Enough to absorb 47 million foot pounds of torque, 654 00:33:59,571 --> 00:34:01,329 And stop a plane. 655 00:34:03,325 --> 00:34:05,083 It works a little bit like this. 656 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,169 Imagine this syringe system is your engine 657 00:34:07,245 --> 00:34:08,745 And your accumulator. 658 00:34:08,756 --> 00:34:11,247 As a tail hook grabs a cable on the flight deck, 659 00:34:11,258 --> 00:34:13,091 Its going to go through a series of pulleys 660 00:34:13,168 --> 00:34:15,427 And begin to push that hydraulic fluid 661 00:34:15,504 --> 00:34:18,430 Through the piston in to the accumulator. 662 00:34:18,507 --> 00:34:21,266 When it does that its going through a control valve, 663 00:34:21,343 --> 00:34:22,768 Or in this case a nozzle. 664 00:34:22,844 --> 00:34:25,270 This creates all the resistance you need 665 00:34:25,347 --> 00:34:29,182 To stop a plane from 150 miles an hour to zero 666 00:34:29,193 --> 00:34:31,434 In just few seconds. 667 00:34:31,445 --> 00:34:34,196 And amazingly enough this engineering feat 668 00:34:34,272 --> 00:34:35,605 Is able to recycle itself 669 00:34:35,616 --> 00:34:38,775 And do the exact same process in 90 seconds 670 00:34:38,786 --> 00:34:41,411 Catching plane after plane after plane. 671 00:34:50,464 --> 00:34:52,714 It sounds simple in principle. 672 00:34:52,791 --> 00:34:55,792 In practice, it's a precise, high speed, 673 00:34:55,803 --> 00:34:57,719 High risk operation. 674 00:34:57,796 --> 00:34:59,462 For the trainee pilots, 675 00:34:59,473 --> 00:35:03,391 There are three critical stages as they prepare to land. 676 00:35:03,468 --> 00:35:04,810 On their first approach, 677 00:35:04,886 --> 00:35:08,388 The pilot will bring the f18 towards the flight deck 678 00:35:08,398 --> 00:35:10,357 But will then do a pass over the carrier. 679 00:35:11,401 --> 00:35:13,226 This is to help them get a visual 680 00:35:13,237 --> 00:35:15,529 Of what it's like to approach a carrier at sea. 681 00:35:16,990 --> 00:35:19,324 Scroggs: The first time I saw the carrier from the air, 682 00:35:19,401 --> 00:35:21,401 Everyone says it looks small in a big ocean, 683 00:35:21,411 --> 00:35:23,078 And they are right. 684 00:35:23,155 --> 00:35:25,071 I saw it and was like, oh, I have to land 685 00:35:25,082 --> 00:35:26,414 On that tiny little rectangle. 686 00:35:28,335 --> 00:35:31,169 Zdenek: On the second approach, the pilot hits the deck 687 00:35:31,246 --> 00:35:33,830 At 150 miles per hour, 688 00:35:33,841 --> 00:35:36,216 But doesn't attempt to engage the tail hook. 689 00:35:37,502 --> 00:35:40,512 Instead, the aircraft goes to full throttle 690 00:35:40,589 --> 00:35:43,473 On touching the deck and takes off again. 691 00:35:44,759 --> 00:35:47,769 This maneuver is called a touch and go. 692 00:35:47,846 --> 00:35:50,263 It trains pilots to abort a landing 693 00:35:50,274 --> 00:35:51,690 And quickly re-launch 694 00:35:51,766 --> 00:35:54,192 If they miss all four arresting cables. 695 00:35:56,271 --> 00:35:59,698 After the touch-and go, it's time for the trainee pilot 696 00:35:59,774 --> 00:36:02,409 To earn their stripes by tackling a landing. 697 00:36:03,361 --> 00:36:05,528 Lanham: Landing on an aircraft on an aircraft carrier 698 00:36:05,539 --> 00:36:08,623 Is one of the most difficult things to do in aviation. 699 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:11,126 The first time you see it from the air 700 00:36:11,203 --> 00:36:13,536 It just looks like a tiny little boat down there. 701 00:36:13,547 --> 00:36:16,047 And then you descend and you get down close to it, 702 00:36:16,124 --> 00:36:17,549 And it's massive, 703 00:36:17,626 --> 00:36:19,050 And it's intimidating 704 00:36:19,127 --> 00:36:21,261 To know you're about to go land on this thing. 705 00:36:22,389 --> 00:36:24,723 Zdenek: As the crew prepares on deck, 706 00:36:24,799 --> 00:36:26,391 I'll be watching from below 707 00:36:26,468 --> 00:36:28,635 As the arresting system hopefully catches 708 00:36:28,645 --> 00:36:31,021 The speeding f18s. 709 00:36:32,649 --> 00:36:33,815 He misses. 710 00:36:34,651 --> 00:36:37,736 The pilot goes to full throttle to re-launch, 711 00:36:37,812 --> 00:36:39,988 And goes around for another attempt. 712 00:36:47,322 --> 00:36:51,074 Lara: So the tail hook hit the wire but it missed it. 713 00:36:51,084 --> 00:36:52,408 I'd didn't pull it out. 714 00:36:53,253 --> 00:36:54,753 It happens, so right now you'll hear our topside guy, 715 00:36:54,829 --> 00:36:56,079 You can hear the footsteps, 716 00:36:56,089 --> 00:36:57,413 They go out and check that wire, 717 00:36:57,424 --> 00:36:58,673 Make sure it's not broken, 718 00:36:58,750 --> 00:36:59,758 And then run back out. 719 00:37:01,011 --> 00:37:04,095 ♪♪ 720 00:37:06,174 --> 00:37:08,433 Zdenek: Again, the pilot misses the cables. 721 00:37:10,345 --> 00:37:12,771 We're gettin' unlucky a lot tonight. 722 00:37:12,847 --> 00:37:14,597 Lanham: When you come in for a landing 723 00:37:14,608 --> 00:37:17,442 And we miss all the cables, we call that a bolter. 724 00:37:17,519 --> 00:37:19,018 At first it's frustrating, 725 00:37:19,029 --> 00:37:20,603 But you have to quickly put that away, 726 00:37:20,614 --> 00:37:24,440 Compartmentalize, realize you're flying an aircraft, 727 00:37:24,451 --> 00:37:25,659 Come back and land again. 728 00:37:27,496 --> 00:37:30,330 ♪♪ 729 00:37:34,795 --> 00:37:37,128 Zdenek: The crosshairs on this monitor 730 00:37:37,205 --> 00:37:40,456 Show the ideal approach position for an aircraft. 731 00:37:40,467 --> 00:37:42,425 And this pilot is spot on. 732 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:51,726 We caught one. 733 00:37:54,139 --> 00:37:58,057 Soon, the trainees are nailing it every time. 734 00:37:58,068 --> 00:37:59,392 Wow. 735 00:38:00,312 --> 00:38:02,478 That's a lot louder when it's in your engine room. 736 00:38:02,489 --> 00:38:04,572 Lara: It is very loud. 737 00:38:04,649 --> 00:38:05,573 Lanham: So if the catapult shot 738 00:38:06,493 --> 00:38:07,659 Is the coolest ride in the world, 739 00:38:08,495 --> 00:38:11,821 The stopping on the boat is kind of the opposite. 740 00:38:11,832 --> 00:38:14,082 People compare it to a car crash. 741 00:38:14,159 --> 00:38:18,420 Taking a heavy aircraft and going about 150 miles an hour, 742 00:38:18,496 --> 00:38:20,255 And bringing it to a dead stop 743 00:38:20,332 --> 00:38:22,507 In the span of a football field or so. 744 00:38:25,554 --> 00:38:28,013 ♪♪ 745 00:38:34,346 --> 00:38:36,271 Zdenek: I think I need to get a richter scale in here. 746 00:38:36,348 --> 00:38:38,848 This room shakes so much. 747 00:38:38,859 --> 00:38:40,775 I'm from la so I feel earthquakes a lot. 748 00:38:40,852 --> 00:38:44,404 I'm gonna guess it's about a 4.0, 4.5. 749 00:38:47,034 --> 00:38:49,776 It's incredible to see the simple hydraulic principle 750 00:38:49,786 --> 00:38:54,205 I demonstrated operating at such scale and speed. 751 00:38:54,282 --> 00:38:56,124 By transferring the plane's energy 752 00:38:56,201 --> 00:38:58,752 From the arresting cable into the hydraulic fluid, 753 00:39:00,455 --> 00:39:03,048 The plane is brought to a complete stop. 754 00:39:08,138 --> 00:39:10,463 How do you handle it when it's a bigger plane 755 00:39:10,474 --> 00:39:12,057 Versus a smaller plane? 756 00:39:12,133 --> 00:39:13,800 Lara: It means we have to adjust that valve 757 00:39:13,810 --> 00:39:15,143 To a different opening. 758 00:39:15,220 --> 00:39:17,136 So the heavier the aircraft, 759 00:39:17,147 --> 00:39:18,396 The smaller the opening. 760 00:39:18,473 --> 00:39:20,556 The lighter the aircraft the bigger the opening. 761 00:39:20,567 --> 00:39:21,358 Zdenek: Got it. 762 00:39:22,477 --> 00:39:23,485 Got it. 763 00:39:23,561 --> 00:39:26,562 It's engineering genius in action. 764 00:39:26,573 --> 00:39:30,992 Systems like these have to work the first time, every time. 765 00:39:31,069 --> 00:39:32,410 Verrisimo: So the catapults and arresting gear 766 00:39:32,487 --> 00:39:36,247 Are some very intricate but powerful pieces of gear. 767 00:39:36,324 --> 00:39:39,084 They have to operate with the timing of a fine swiss watch, 768 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:41,577 They have to be exactly the same every time, 769 00:39:41,588 --> 00:39:44,005 So that we can launch those 70,000 pound aircraft 770 00:39:44,082 --> 00:39:45,757 Consistently and safely every time. 771 00:39:47,502 --> 00:39:49,594 That extraordinary engineering 772 00:39:49,671 --> 00:39:53,515 Was put to the toughest test yet in 1996. 773 00:39:55,260 --> 00:39:57,602 When the united states once again 774 00:39:57,679 --> 00:40:01,022 Took on iraqi dictator, saddam hussain. 775 00:40:02,359 --> 00:40:05,768 America wanted to use airpower to hammer iraq 776 00:40:05,779 --> 00:40:07,153 From the persian gulf. 777 00:40:08,356 --> 00:40:11,616 The perfect task for the uss carl vinson. 778 00:40:13,778 --> 00:40:16,996 It deployed as part of operation desert strike. 779 00:40:18,783 --> 00:40:23,711 From offshore, its jets penetrated iraqi air space. 780 00:40:27,717 --> 00:40:30,209 Over one 90-day deployment, 781 00:40:30,220 --> 00:40:34,389 The carl vinson launched and landed over 8,000 flights, 782 00:40:36,643 --> 00:40:41,229 Pounding iraqi military targets with laser guided bombs. 783 00:40:44,067 --> 00:40:47,277 Only a nimitz class aircraft carrier could have done it. 784 00:40:48,313 --> 00:40:49,737 And it would have been impossible 785 00:40:49,814 --> 00:40:52,157 Without the extraordinary engineering 786 00:40:52,233 --> 00:40:55,118 Behind the carl vinson's launch and landing systems. 787 00:41:00,667 --> 00:41:05,003 Operations like that are what this crew is training for. 788 00:41:05,079 --> 00:41:09,174 The pilots have one more day of evaluations to complete. 789 00:41:09,250 --> 00:41:13,261 And I have one final engineering innovation to uncover. 790 00:41:14,347 --> 00:41:16,764 ♪♪ 791 00:41:16,841 --> 00:41:20,810 A seemingly simple innovation that's right under my feet. 792 00:41:25,025 --> 00:41:28,401 It's my final day onboard the uss carl vinson. 793 00:41:30,447 --> 00:41:32,355 The aircraft carrier flight deck 794 00:41:32,365 --> 00:41:36,034 Has a reputation as the most dangerous work place on earth. 795 00:41:37,787 --> 00:41:41,623 With planes, aviation fuel, ammunition, 796 00:41:41,699 --> 00:41:43,208 And dozens of crew, 797 00:41:43,284 --> 00:41:45,201 There's a lot that can go wrong. 798 00:41:45,212 --> 00:41:48,254 And terrible consequences when it does. 799 00:41:49,633 --> 00:41:51,457 1967. 800 00:41:51,468 --> 00:41:53,718 On board the uss forrestal, 801 00:41:53,795 --> 00:41:55,711 The first of the forrestal class 802 00:41:55,722 --> 00:41:58,223 And a predecessor to the nimitz, 803 00:41:58,299 --> 00:42:02,393 One of the worst tragedies in carrier history takes place. 804 00:42:05,815 --> 00:42:08,566 Archive: Somehow a zuni rocket has been triggered 805 00:42:08,777 --> 00:42:12,144 Roaring across the flight deck and hitting an a4 skyhawk. 806 00:42:12,155 --> 00:42:14,489 Zdenek: The skyhawk's missiles detonated. 807 00:42:14,566 --> 00:42:17,066 With planes packed closely together, 808 00:42:17,077 --> 00:42:20,319 The fire quickly spread, trapping pilots, 809 00:42:20,330 --> 00:42:23,498 And detonating more ammunition and fuel. 810 00:42:23,575 --> 00:42:25,333 Crew battled the blaze, 811 00:42:25,410 --> 00:42:27,410 And pushed aircraft overboard, 812 00:42:27,420 --> 00:42:30,088 Rather than risk more explosions. 813 00:42:30,164 --> 00:42:34,417 Meanwhile, burning fuel flooded onto the lower decks. 814 00:42:34,427 --> 00:42:38,263 The disaster claimed the lives of 134 men. 815 00:42:40,016 --> 00:42:44,102 The most common accidents happen during take off and landing 816 00:42:44,178 --> 00:42:46,429 On decks crowded with planes. 817 00:42:46,439 --> 00:42:48,398 Where crew have been killed or injured. 818 00:42:50,351 --> 00:42:53,269 Lanham: The flight deck is a extremely busy place, 819 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:56,614 With up to 40 aircraft operating 820 00:42:56,825 --> 00:42:59,025 And about 1,000 people running around, 821 00:42:59,035 --> 00:43:01,119 So everybody has to look at what they're doin', 822 00:43:01,195 --> 00:43:03,037 Keep their head on a swivel as we say, 823 00:43:03,114 --> 00:43:05,707 And trust that everybody's doing their job. 824 00:43:05,783 --> 00:43:07,116 Fletcher: It can be deadly. 825 00:43:07,127 --> 00:43:08,376 There's a lot of things can happen 826 00:43:08,453 --> 00:43:09,627 In a very short period of time, 827 00:43:09,704 --> 00:43:11,379 If you're standing in the wrong place, 828 00:43:11,456 --> 00:43:13,372 It can be a bad day. 829 00:43:13,383 --> 00:43:15,458 If you're on the flight deck, keep your head on swivel, 830 00:43:15,468 --> 00:43:17,218 You're constantly looking around, 831 00:43:17,295 --> 00:43:19,178 Just making sure you're in a safe place. 832 00:43:24,302 --> 00:43:27,053 Zdenek: The nimitz designers wanted to make its flight deck 833 00:43:27,063 --> 00:43:29,472 Safer than its predecessors. 834 00:43:29,482 --> 00:43:31,357 But they also wanted more planes. 835 00:43:32,319 --> 00:43:34,527 And to launch and land them faster. 836 00:43:35,488 --> 00:43:38,656 What they needed to achieve both was more space. 837 00:43:39,492 --> 00:43:43,578 For years, carriers operated with a single flight deck. 838 00:43:43,655 --> 00:43:46,247 This is an overhead plan of the essex class. 839 00:43:46,324 --> 00:43:50,001 The us navy's main carrier used during world war ii. 840 00:43:50,078 --> 00:43:52,078 This meant that planes could take off and land, 841 00:43:52,088 --> 00:43:53,338 But not at the same time. 842 00:43:54,174 --> 00:43:58,259 This made operations slow, difficult and dangerous. 843 00:44:02,840 --> 00:44:06,184 This problem was first addressed by naval engineers 844 00:44:06,260 --> 00:44:07,769 In the 1950's, 845 00:44:07,845 --> 00:44:11,356 When they made a fundamental change to carrier design. 846 00:44:12,350 --> 00:44:15,276 The solution was an angled flight deck. 847 00:44:15,353 --> 00:44:17,770 By angling the landing area to one side, 848 00:44:17,781 --> 00:44:20,365 Incoming aircraft could have a clear approach. 849 00:44:21,534 --> 00:44:24,026 That reduced the risk of plane crashes 850 00:44:24,037 --> 00:44:25,787 During landing operations, 851 00:44:25,863 --> 00:44:29,457 But it was the nimitz that took the angled flight deck 852 00:44:29,534 --> 00:44:31,617 To whole new level. 853 00:44:31,628 --> 00:44:34,203 At the front of the nimitz class carl vinson 854 00:44:34,214 --> 00:44:37,039 Is the launch track, with two catapults. 855 00:44:37,050 --> 00:44:40,635 Next to it, and at an angle, is the landing strip. 856 00:44:40,712 --> 00:44:43,295 It's offset by 14 degrees. 857 00:44:43,306 --> 00:44:46,140 Three times more than previous carriers. 858 00:44:47,719 --> 00:44:49,644 That allows launches and landings 859 00:44:49,721 --> 00:44:52,388 To happen simultaneously. 860 00:44:52,399 --> 00:44:55,316 Up to one every 30 seconds, 861 00:44:55,393 --> 00:44:58,695 Making the flight deck busier than an international airport. 862 00:45:01,315 --> 00:45:04,992 Made of steel and coated with an anti-skid material, 863 00:45:05,069 --> 00:45:06,536 It's truly immense. 864 00:45:07,580 --> 00:45:12,625 Over 1,000 feet long, and 250 feet wide. 865 00:45:13,161 --> 00:45:16,328 That's more than 4 and a half acres. 866 00:45:16,339 --> 00:45:19,507 Offering huge space for planes to land, 867 00:45:19,584 --> 00:45:24,137 Take off and maneuver more safely than ever before. 868 00:45:26,015 --> 00:45:30,101 But doing that still requires complicated choreography. 869 00:45:30,178 --> 00:45:32,845 That's managed by the flight deck handler. 870 00:45:32,856 --> 00:45:35,848 Stroud: This will let me know exactly how 871 00:45:35,859 --> 00:45:37,516 I set the flight deck up. 872 00:45:37,527 --> 00:45:39,777 We will also coordinate with navigation, 873 00:45:39,854 --> 00:45:43,522 So navigation will talk with reactor department 874 00:45:43,533 --> 00:45:47,368 And engineering, if they have any high speed runs, 875 00:45:47,445 --> 00:45:50,037 Any turns, rudder swing checks, 876 00:45:50,114 --> 00:45:53,458 So that I'll know how to strategically place my aircraft. 877 00:45:53,534 --> 00:45:55,034 Zdenek: You give 'em a window, 878 00:45:55,044 --> 00:45:56,535 You tell them when they can come in, 879 00:45:56,546 --> 00:45:57,795 You gotta coordinate with that flight plan that you got. 880 00:45:58,006 --> 00:45:59,380 Stroud: Every day its different. 881 00:45:59,457 --> 00:46:01,382 Nothing's ever the same, chad. 882 00:46:01,459 --> 00:46:02,458 This is super easy. 883 00:46:02,469 --> 00:46:03,634 Zdenek: How long you been doing it? 884 00:46:03,711 --> 00:46:04,627 Stroud: 26 years. 885 00:46:04,637 --> 00:46:05,711 Zdenek: 26 years? 886 00:46:05,722 --> 00:46:06,462 Stroud: Yeah. 887 00:46:06,473 --> 00:46:07,555 Zdenek: Wow. 888 00:46:07,632 --> 00:46:09,307 Experience like that 889 00:46:09,383 --> 00:46:12,134 Has been earned over decades of service 890 00:46:12,145 --> 00:46:14,303 In some of the most significant conflicts 891 00:46:14,314 --> 00:46:15,438 In american history. 892 00:46:16,316 --> 00:46:18,641 In October 2001 893 00:46:18,651 --> 00:46:22,361 The carl vinson began the hunt for osama bin laden. 894 00:46:26,317 --> 00:46:29,652 The ship's aircraft were part of the first air strikes 895 00:46:29,662 --> 00:46:32,205 Against al qaeda in afghanistan. 896 00:46:33,074 --> 00:46:36,417 There were over 8,000 take offs and landings. 897 00:46:36,494 --> 00:46:39,504 Nearly 11,000 flight hours. 898 00:46:39,580 --> 00:46:43,299 More than two million pounds of ordnance dropped on targets. 899 00:46:45,094 --> 00:46:49,263 All delivered from the deck of the carl vinson by air 900 00:46:49,340 --> 00:46:51,516 To the enemy's doorstep. 901 00:46:51,592 --> 00:46:55,228 Precisely what an aircraft carrier was designed to do. 902 00:46:56,523 --> 00:46:59,181 10 years later, when osama bin laden 903 00:46:59,192 --> 00:47:02,360 Was finally located in pakistan by navy seals. 904 00:47:02,436 --> 00:47:03,611 Obama: They killed osama bin laden 905 00:47:03,688 --> 00:47:06,072 And took custody of his body. 906 00:47:06,783 --> 00:47:09,441 Zdenek: His body was delivered to the carl vinson 907 00:47:09,452 --> 00:47:10,660 For burial at sea. 908 00:47:12,539 --> 00:47:14,580 That was done from this hangar bay. 909 00:47:16,292 --> 00:47:20,503 Allowing the uss carl vinson to finish the job it started. 910 00:47:24,467 --> 00:47:28,094 It's the last day of evaluations for these pilots. 911 00:47:29,046 --> 00:47:32,306 As they make their final take offs and landings, 912 00:47:32,383 --> 00:47:34,800 It gives me one more chance to get below decks 913 00:47:34,811 --> 00:47:38,229 And see the arresting cable in action again. 914 00:47:40,233 --> 00:47:42,224 It's almost like waiting to catch fish. 915 00:47:42,235 --> 00:47:43,726 You don't know if it's going to hit your line 916 00:47:43,736 --> 00:47:44,727 Or another one. 917 00:47:47,315 --> 00:47:49,481 Not surprisingly, arresting cables 918 00:47:49,492 --> 00:47:52,118 Take a real beating from the planes' tail hooks. 919 00:47:54,080 --> 00:47:56,372 Now, cable three has worn out. 920 00:48:01,829 --> 00:48:04,246 Crews train to kick into action 921 00:48:04,257 --> 00:48:07,008 And replace it with a completely new cable. 922 00:48:07,084 --> 00:48:10,595 The challenge to do it before this plane lands. 923 00:48:13,841 --> 00:48:17,059 ♪♪ 924 00:48:46,290 --> 00:48:47,706 With just seconds to spare, 925 00:48:48,718 --> 00:48:51,093 The cable is replaced and the f18 can make its landing. 926 00:48:55,132 --> 00:48:56,390 (cheering) 927 00:48:56,467 --> 00:48:58,225 Lanham: When you complete your qualifications, 928 00:48:58,302 --> 00:49:00,135 The lso or landing signal officer, 929 00:49:00,146 --> 00:49:02,063 The ones grading us, 930 00:49:02,139 --> 00:49:03,230 They'll come up over the radio 931 00:49:03,307 --> 00:49:05,524 And say congrats man, you're a quall. 932 00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:09,311 So the training on the aircraft carrier 933 00:49:09,322 --> 00:49:11,072 Is really the culmination 934 00:49:11,148 --> 00:49:13,532 Of about two to two-and- a-half years of training. 935 00:49:17,580 --> 00:49:21,248 Zdenek: The engineering on this ship may be 40 years old, 936 00:49:21,325 --> 00:49:24,085 But the constant maintenance it receives 937 00:49:24,161 --> 00:49:26,578 Means it still runs like clockwork, 938 00:49:26,589 --> 00:49:27,830 Time after time. 939 00:49:29,333 --> 00:49:34,679 Believe it or not that was catch number 105,527, 940 00:49:35,339 --> 00:49:37,515 And just about everything you need 941 00:49:37,591 --> 00:49:40,259 To stop an f18 in a couple hundred feet 942 00:49:40,269 --> 00:49:41,769 Is right here in this room. 943 00:49:41,846 --> 00:49:44,522 American made, and built to last. 944 00:49:45,516 --> 00:49:47,608 The uss carl vinson 945 00:49:47,685 --> 00:49:49,276 Has played a critical role 946 00:49:49,353 --> 00:49:52,571 In exercising american air power from the sea. 947 00:49:53,783 --> 00:49:57,609 It is just one of ten nimitz class aircraft carriers, 948 00:49:57,620 --> 00:50:01,080 The last of which will serve until 2060. 949 00:50:03,292 --> 00:50:06,368 But already, the us navy has designed 950 00:50:06,379 --> 00:50:10,297 And built the first of a replacement fleet. 951 00:50:10,374 --> 00:50:12,174 The ford class. 952 00:50:13,219 --> 00:50:16,470 The first entered service in 2017. 953 00:50:18,307 --> 00:50:20,599 Nine more of these new vessels are planned 954 00:50:23,220 --> 00:50:26,731 To create america's next 40 billion dollar 955 00:50:26,807 --> 00:50:28,607 Super carrier fleet. 956 00:50:30,144 --> 00:50:32,611 The ford class is just the next step. 957 00:50:34,482 --> 00:50:36,148 Building on the successful design 958 00:50:36,159 --> 00:50:40,161 Of its remarkable predecessors, like the uss carl vinson. 959 00:50:41,155 --> 00:50:44,331 This iconic, battle proven super carrier 960 00:50:44,408 --> 00:50:48,160 Has shaped four decades of global history. 961 00:50:48,171 --> 00:50:52,339 It's a legacy made possible by extraordinary engineering. 962 00:50:52,416 --> 00:50:53,340 ♪♪ 82008

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