Apache helicopter begins trials onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth
An Apache attack helicopter belonging to 4 Regiment, 656 Squadron, Army Air Corps made the first landing of this aircraft type on HMS Queen Elizabeth on 3rd June.
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Queen Elizabeth Class
Dry docking the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers – what are the options?
The two Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carriers will require dry-docking periodically throughout their lives. The dry docks at Portsmouth and Devonport naval bases are not large enough to accommodate them so the RN must choose between a very limited selection of other UK facilities. Here we examine some of the options.
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F-35 flight trials continue. HMS Queen Elizabeth Westlant 18 deployment – Part 4
Since the first F-35 arrived on board HMS Queen Elizabeth on 25th September the flight trials programme has continued at pace. There has been a great deal activity on board the ship and this period has been an eventful period for the F-35 programme as a whole. This photo and video essay covers the highlights of the Westlant 18 deployment from the past few weeks.
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Reporting from the USS Harry S Truman as US Navy strike group visits the UK
Today the USS Harry S Truman, flagship of US Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 8 came to anchor in the Solent off Gosport for a 5-day visit. We went on board and were able to speak with senior officers about their mission and relationship with the Royal Navy.More
Development of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier – a design history
In this article, we review how the design of the Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carriers evolved. This is a broad subject, worthy of several books but this article provides an overview.
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Fast jets on deck. F-35 arrives on HMS Queen Elizabeth
In this photo and video essay, we look at the much-anticipated arrival of the first jets on board HMS Queen Elizabeth which took place this week.
First trials of F-35 aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth begin this autumn
In late August HMS Queen Elizabeth will leave Portsmouth for her Westlant 18 trip. The ship will be away for around four months and, although not an operational deployment, this will be her longest and most demanding period at sea so far. The centrepiece of the deployment will be the fixed-wing First of Class Trials (FOCT) with F-35Bs touching down on her deck for the first time. In this article we look at the preparation and plans for the flying trials.
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RFA Fort Victoria modified to support the aircraft carriers
RFA Fort Victoria is currently mid-way through a major refit at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead. The usual maintenance and machinery overhauls are being conducted but she is also being modified to provide solid stores replenishment to the aircraft carriers.More
HMS Queen Elizabeth – a large and convenient media target
“Navy’s new £3.1Bn aircraft carrier is leaking” screams the front-page headline in today’s Sun newspaper, The Daily Express then helpfully adds to the hysteria by claiming “the ship is sinking”. The simple facts of this rather routine occurrence is that a leaking stern seal on one of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s propeller shafts was discovered during sea trials and is allowing small amounts of water into the ship.More