CVN77 - anchored one mile away from my local airfield!

[Ganter]

She arrived this morning for a brief stopover before away to join exercises.
My local airfield that I fly out of (RW and Sim) is about 500 metres from where I took this shot.

I often fly the Harrier from there to do VTOLs on Javier's Nimitz. A bit spooky tbh.
I reckoned CVN77 was in Javier mode Config 2 - Crowded Deck.

She's an impressive piece of kit and I wish all her compliment a cheerful stay in Portsmouth.

Notice the guys silhouetted on the Forward Lift. Sorry my camera wasn't better.

[DaveB]

That sure looks crowded!!

Nice shot mate and thanks for posting
ATB
DaveB

[Ganter]

That sure looks crowded!!

Nice shot mate and thanks for posting
ATB
DaveB

She sure was 'bristling' with technology Dave and certainly crowded. A lovely, big impressive sight.
Amazing to think our new QE class are a little smaller!

She was happily swinging on her anchor as the wind was fairly brisk. She went through 90 degrees or so inside 10 minutes.

Here's another a little further towards Lee-On-Solent. So glad I went to look at her. It was like Simming and Reality collide. I usually park Javier's Nimitz there at roughly the same spot.

[Naismith]

Lock up your daughters the Navy's in town

[Ganter]

Lock up your daughters the Navy's in town

I could say something rude about Portsmouth (I'm a Southampton man), but I won't!

[DaveB]

She came to Pompey when I was still in the mob and disgorged around 3000 sailors ashore each day. We noticed the prices in the shops suddenly rise too! It was the first time I'd seen a Ticonderoga class cruiser close-up. Very impressive and lovely lines Being one of the escorts has it's advantages at ports like Portsmouth. You get to walk ashore rather than take a boat!!
ATB
DaveB

[Ganter]

She came to Pompey when I was still in the mob and disgorged around 3000 sailors ashore each day. We noticed the prices in the shops suddenly rise too! It was the first time I'd seen a Ticonderoga class cruiser close-up. Very impressive and lovely lines Being one of the escorts has it's advantages at ports like Portsmouth. You get to walk ashore rather than take a boat!!
ATB
DaveB

She was last there in 2011 - apparently in five days there were only two arrests - both locals for trying to pick fights with our American friends. The sailors behaved impeccably throughout their stay. They partied "hard" (as only sailors can when given a run ashore) each and every day of their stay - but vanished at 2300 HRS prompt every night. Good chaps.

p.s Post count 100! - SOH is a keeper! Glad to be here everyone. I really like this forum. Everyone's friendly, knowledgeable and I feel a shared passion for all things that are discussed here. Glad I found it.

[Ganter]

Did the Harrier thing tonight - taking off from my local Airfield (EGHF - Lee-On-Solent, better known in these circles as RNAS Daedalus)

Landing on CVN77 Bush currently parked in the middle of the Solent.

Dave, sorry, bottled it and had to use NVG...

Spinnaker Tower is off to the right.

[DaveB]

hahahahahaha..

Had a look in the press online this morning and they're saying it's Theodore Roosevelt. Hope you didn't land on the wrong one!!

BTW.. I lived on the married patch behind Daedalus for a wee while. Was looking forward to seeing out my last 6months in the mob (I applied for Fort Southwick as a last draft) but the mob decided to send me to Whitehall instead which necessitated a move to the MQ at Uxbridge. They had a sense of humour to the very end bless!!

EDIT: The ITV website is saying its the Bush too mate so your eyesight isn't in question

ATB
DaveB

[Ganter]

hahahahahaha..

Had a look in the press online this morning and they're saying it's Theodore Roosevelt. Hope you didn't land on the wrong one!!

BTW.. I lived on the married patch behind Daedalus for a wee while. Was looking forward to seeing out my last 6months in the mob (I applied for Fort Southwick as a last draft) but the mob decided to send me to Whitehall instead which necessitated a move to the MQ at Uxbridge. They had a sense of humour to the very end bless!!

EDIT: The ITV website is saying its the Bush too mate so your eyesight isn't in question

ATB
DaveB

CVN 71 came through in 2015. Bush had previously been through in 2011. They all park up there at Stokes because only the Nab tower deep channel exists these days and there's no other space on the Solent of sufficient draft.
I'm surprised they didn't invite Bush to come into port as they've just spent the last three years and umpteen millions dredging it out to take QE when she arrives. Possibly Nimitz class still draws too much.

There's a local rumour floating around that QE might be arriving Pompey August 21st. That'll be a big day.

[DaveB]

Bush does pull slightly more (5ft between max nav and absolute limit) so that might be enough. There's also the comparative lengths. Can't find a definitive length for QE.. just one at 920ft. Bush is 1040ft at the waterline and 1092 overall. That's a big piece of metal to swing around in Pompey harbour!!

ATB
DaveB

[Ganter]

Bush does pull slightly more (5ft between max nav and absolute limit) so that might be enough. There's also the comparative lengths. Can't find a definitive length for QE.. just one at 920ft. Bush is 1040ft at the waterline and 1092 overall. That's a big piece of metal to swing around in Pompey harbour!!

ATB
DaveB

She could give it a go and if she grounds then we'll have a new Gosport - Pompey road bridge.
An expensive one.
With built in Runway.
And F-18's,
with weaponry,

and I'd probably give up simming for a little while.