Carrier Systems

[Capt.Hunter]

BTW, although a crash net does indeed appear in ST5, the "net" in VOY "Barge of the Dead" is actually a forcefield - probably a low-power version designed to slow rather than stop a moving object.

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"Spatial anomalies, energy beings, telepathic echoes. You know, sometimes I really miss the Dominion War. At least then all we had to worry about was where the next polaron beam was coming from...": Capt.Hunter, USS Tempest

[Jonathan Talbot]

All right some one after my own heart, Carriers... Now upon reading this thread there where some interesting points made...

1- I think the time specified to launch a ship from a cold start is right it would be about 30 min, after all let us keep in mind it is a fighter craft and certain procedures and safety concerns most be followed. But for a recovery and launch I don't think it would take 30 min, best to halve it or less. We can re-arm an F-14 or F/A 18 in about 15min or less ( think of it as a Nascar race team).

2- I like the Fire Supression System idea, much like HALON 1301 or Aquas Film Forming Foam (AFFF) that is used in the modern navy today, However we still dump the Aircraft over board (as they are a class Delta fire and cannot be put out by conventional means.) As for the rest of the Crash and Recovery Ops I would assume that a mini-transporter would be provided on board the fighter in question or even having somethin similiar in the Recovery bay it self provided the pilot made a Hot Landing.

3- the Idea of the Force FIleds as used in the shuttle bay is a good one, but I do propose a problem what if an enemy fighter or ship is able to target the bay thus taking out the force field. I think it would be best to have the Ground Crew in Enviromental suits and just leave it open to Vacuum.

4- As for the Arresting wires or Barricade netting good Ideas both but, Last resort items. The Mag lock is a very good idea for this, as you are dealing with varying speeds.

5- Thru-Decks have always been a Favorite of mine, but in a practical use. I can see launch tubes, and a Recovery Deck on a COmbat carrier. While a Thru-Deck would be used on a Support vessel like a Combat Medical StarShip.

6- Recovery Operations would be tricky, I can see them trying for two or more, but realistically I would say only one at a time unless you had more then one Recovery Deck.(Main reason for this is simple, on a modern Aircraft carrier you have a pitching and rolling deck. Now in space there is no such animal, but surely there are other considerations such as engine wash from the fighter next to you) Even in Battlestar Galactica they only landed one Viper at a Time and that Deck was big enough to handle two ships landing.

As a side note, for those of you who have not had any experiance with Carrier Landings try this trick, Take a stamp put it Sticky side on the floor, Now go to the other end of the room and jump for that stamp with your thumb. ( This is as close to a carrier Landing as you will get, Now for an even better trick, Darken the room to being pitch black and do it again.. Night landing's