ISN'T THIS GREAT
The USS Ronald Reagan sails by the Arizona Memorial
Boy!!! When the Bridge pipes "Man the Rail", there is a lot rail to man on this monster.
Shoulder to shoulder around 4.5 acres.
This doesn't give her displacement but it's about 100,000 tons with full complements.
Capability
* Top speed exceeds 30 knots
* Powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate for more than 20 years without refueling
* Expected to operate for about 50 years
* Carries over 80 combat aircraft
* Three arresting cables can stop a 28-ton aircraft going 150 miles per hour in less than 400 feet
Size
* Towers 20 stories above the waterline
* 1092 feet long; nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall
* Flight deck covers 4.5 acres
* 4 Bronze propellers, each 21 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons
* 2 rudders, each 21 feet across and weighing 66,200 pounds
* 4 high speed aircraft elevators, each over 4,000 square feet
Dates
* Dec 8, 1994 Contract awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding
* Feb 12, 1998 Keel laid
* Oct 1, 2000 Precommissioning Unit established
* March 4, 2001 Christened by Mrs. Nancy Reagan
* May 5, 2003 First underway
* July 12, 2003 Commissioned
* July 23, 2004 Arrived at homeport in San Diego, CA
Capacity
* Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel
* Carries enough food and supplies to operate for 90 days
* 18,150 meals served daily
* Distillation plants provide 400,000 gallons of fresh water from the sea water daily, enough for 2000 homes
* Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and wiring
* 1,400 telephones, 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets
* Costs the Navy approximately $250,000 per day for pier side operation
* Costs the Navy approximately $2.5 million per day for underway operations (Sailor's salaries included)
We should all be proud of the U.S. Navy and this Aircraft Carrier.
