The US Navy’s newest super carrier left port and headed out into the Atlantic Ocean for its first sea trials. The USS Gerald Ford is the first of the Ford Class carriers which will carry more aircraft and less personnel than Nimitz Class ships.
More of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) passing Fort Monroe en route to begin sea trials. pic.twitter.com/8xrwBOJiGQ
— Jack Heretik (@JackHeretik) April 10, 2017
Over the next several days, CVN 78 Sailors, shipbuilders from Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS), the Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Naval Sea Systems Command personnel will be working side-by-side testing many of the ship’s key systems and technologies.
“The Navy and our industry partners are excited to have the future USS Gerald R. Ford underway under her own power for the first time, executing a rigorous and comprehensive test program for this first-of-class ship,” said Rear Adm. Brian Antonio, program executive officer for aircraft carriers. “This milestone is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, and we look forward to learning a great deal during sea trials. We will continue to work together to deliver Ford’s critical capabilities to the fleet.” – US Navy
These first trials are actually called ‘Builder’s Sea Trials’ with the goal of testing systems, different components and the ships compartments while at sea.
Featured image by US Navy