Norfolk Rotarians and guests enjoyed a visit to the USS George H. W. Bush, one of the nation’s nuclear powered aircraft carriers. We saw the Bush’s hangar bay which, when the carrier is on a mission, is the storage area for the F-18s and the helicopters. The aircraft are transported up to the flight deck by four large elevators which mesh with the flight deck with a tolerance of ¼ inch.
While at sea, the Bush will have 5,500 sailors, plus 2,000 airmen, and 72 aircraft. We were shown the catapults and also the steel arresting cables for when the aircraft return to the carrier. The launching and retrieval of the aircraft occurs at a rate of one a minute.
After the first port of call, restocking of the USS Bush occurs weekly with items ranging from fuel to food and armaments to mail. A supply ship pulls along-side and the materials are brought through the flight deck where they are efficiently sorted and stored. Additional materials are delivered by helicopters.
The bridge is where the commanding officer, the navigator, and other bridge officers steer the ship. The steering of the ship is frequently done by a person with two to three years of experience. When aircraft are being launched, the flying ops’ team is responsible for insuring the ship has the most advantageous flying wind across its deck.
The tour concluded in the mess area where the approximate 100 cooks fed 20,000 meals daily while at sea. The meals range from corn dogs to surf and turf.