Aircraft carriers symbolize the strength of a nation. There are 47 active aircraft carriers in the world, & the US Navy operates 11 of them.So, here are ten awesome facts about aircraft carriers
1
The biggest supercarrier can carry 90 aircraft
Gerald Ford-class carriers are the largest aircraft carrier & can carry up to 90 aircraft. Other aircraft carriers can carry an average of 65 aircraft
2
On taking off, the aircraft can reach a speed of 0-300 kph in less than 2 secs
Accelerating at such a rapid pace is extremely risky, & pilots describe this feeling as being punched in the face
3
The C-130 Hercules Can Take-off & Land on an Aircraft Carrier
The massive 4-engine Lockheed C-130 Hercules has successfully tested 29 touch-and-go landings and 21 full stops landing on carriers.
4
Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can operate for 20 years without refueling
Increased range is a major advantage a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has over conventional ones.
5
USS Nimitz is the oldest serving aircraft carrier in the world
Commissioned in 1975, she has served for over three decades and is the oldest in service.
6
British once planned a carrier primarily made of wood pulp & ice
It was planned under Project Habakkuk during WWII. The project was later scrapped due to immense technical difficulties
7
An aircraft carrier can desalinate 400000 gallons of seawater every day
Naval ships use reverse osmosis to generate freshwater. There have been ongoing projects to bring the purified water ashore.
8
Brazil once tried to sell an aircraft carrier on eBay
NAeL Minas Gerais was a light aircraft carrier operated by Brazil. In October 2003 Brazil tried to sell it on eBay, later the sale was called off
9
USS Lexington once helped generate power for Tacoma for a month
Due to drought in 1929, Tacoma suffered a huge power cut, this is when USS Lexington supplied 1/4th of Tacoma’s power for a whole month
10
Japan’s largest aircraft carrier during WWII was sunk on its maiden voyage
Shinano was sunk 10 days after her commissioning, by four torpedoes from the U.S. Navy submarine Archerfish