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The focal point of this story is the USS *Gerald R. Ford*, an immense vessel that holds the unprecedented distinction of being not only the largest aircraft carrier within the United States Navy but also the largest in existence anywhere in the world. When commissioned in July 2017, it became the flagship of an entirely new class—the Ford-class—marking a revolutionary step in naval engineering that surpasses the capabilities of the preceding Nimitz-class carriers in both sophistication and technological achievement.
Possessing a redesigned hull optimized for efficiency and stability, the *Ford* integrates advanced systems that reimagine how naval aviation operates. It features enhanced weapons storage compartments, an innovative system of elevators for ordnance, and a larger, more strategically arranged flight deck that increases aircraft capacity and operational fluidity. Among its most notable upgrades are the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), which replaces traditional steam catapults with a faster, smoother, and more sustainable launching method, and a tripled electrical generation capacity compared with any previous U.S. aircraft carrier. Collectively, these innovations make the ship a testbed and model for the Navy’s future.
In the current geopolitical context, the *Gerald R. Ford* has been deployed to the Caribbean, a strategic maneuver ordered amid rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The deployment follows accusations by the U.S. government that Venezuela has been facilitating illicit drug trafficking operations. On the previous Friday, the Pentagon publicly confirmed that the *Ford* would join other U.S. vessels operating under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Southern Command, reflecting Washington’s commitment to maintaining security and balance in the region. Before this movement southward, the *Ford* had been stationed in European waters, participating in NATO exercises designed to strengthen allied readiness and interoperability.
Our firsthand visit to the *Gerald R. Ford* took place in 2017 at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia—its designated homeport and the world’s largest naval base. Upon arrival, the impression of the *Ford’s* sheer scale was almost overwhelming. Rising approximately 134 feet above the waterline, the vessel seemed to dominate the entire harbor area, even when positioned alongside other imposing ships such as the *USS George W. Bush*, *USS Harry S. Truman*, and *USS Abraham Lincoln*. Each of these sibling carriers underscored, by comparison, the *Ford’s* unmatched magnitude.
Escorted by U.S. Navy spokesperson Corey Todd Jones, who would serve as our knowledgeable guide, we approached the ship’s heavily secured entrance. After passing through a checkpoint—where, for security reasons, photography was strictly prohibited—we entered a vast hangar bay. This enormous space functions as the central storage and maintenance area for aircraft not currently deployed on deck. Inside, Jones demonstrated one of the carrier’s high-speed weapons elevators. These elevators, essential to carrier operations, link the magazines deep within the ship to the flight deck, enabling rapid and safe transport of ammunition and equipment. Their exact internal structure remains classified, underscoring the sensitivity of this technology.
Among the ship’s commemorative details is a statue of former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford himself, situated prominently within the hangar bay. President Ford, who served as a naval officer aboard the USS *Monterey* during World War II, earned recognition from his shipmates for his decisive actions during a violent storm that many credit with saving the vessel. This monument within the carrier reminds every crew member and visitor of the ship’s namesake and his legacy of leadership and service.
Ascending from the hangar, our group reached the expansive flight deck, a surface measuring roughly 1,092 feet in length and 256 feet across—an enormous airfield floating on the sea. On that day, the only aircraft present was a decommissioned F/A-18 Hornet stripped of its engine and most components. Although no longer flight-ready, it now serves an essential purpose as a full-scale training model for signalmen learning to maneuver jets safely across the deck. Missing its afterburners and internal mechanics, the shell of the aircraft provides a realistic working platform without operational risks.
Overhead, an E-2C Hawkeye reconnaissance aircraft swept across the sky—a reminder that such surveillance planes frequently accompany carriers as part of their permanent air contingent. Every carrier of the *Ford’s* scale carries a full Carrier Air Wing composed of roughly nine squadrons incorporating five distinct aircraft types, collectively designed to project power, conduct electronic warfare, provide early warning, and ensure operational versatility.
As we continued, Jones introduced us to the Integrated Catapult Control System—nicknamed the “bubble”—an elevated compartment from which officers oversee and initiate aircraft launches. Once signalmen clear the way, the operators within this room trigger the catapults, sending jets into flight with precise coordination. Nearby, a series of Bomb Jettison Ramps serve as emergency outlets through which misfired or malfunctioning ordnance can be safely expelled from the deck and into the sea. These safety features became standard after the tragic 1967 fire aboard the USS *Forrestal* in the Gulf of Tonkin, when an accidental rocket discharge from an F-4 Phantom ignited a catastrophic blaze that claimed more than a hundred lives. Such design enhancements underscore how deeply the Navy learns from its past to prevent tragedies from repeating.
Standing along the deck’s edges, it was easy to grasp the inherent perils of life at sea. Beyond the guardrails, the structure drops abruptly into open ocean, heightening the sense of vulnerability amid such controlled power. Yet, defensive systems also abound—side-mounted Sea Sparrow missile launchers provide short-range protection against incoming aerial and missile threats, complemented by Rolling Airframe Missile arrays and concealed Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) designed as the ship’s final automated line of defense.
The tour’s climax came as we ascended into the ship’s towering island, the command center for both flight and navigation operations. Its elevated placement maximizes deck space for aircraft movement while providing a commanding panoramic view. Inside the flight-deck control room, the handling officers manage the intricate dance of takeoffs, landings, and positioning of up to seventy-five aircraft. Modernized computer systems now handle much of this coordination, but as a nod to tradition and redundancy, the original “Ouija board” remains on hand—a large tabletop model representing the flight deck, once used to manually track aircraft positions using tokens and magnetic indicators. Visiting dignitaries, including President Donald Trump during his inspection, have autographed U.S. banknotes displayed around the board’s border, offering an unconventional yet personal record of their presence aboard.
Proceeding further, we entered the bridge, the nerve center from which the *Ford* is steered and navigated. Powered by twin nuclear reactors, the ship can maintain speeds exceeding thirty miles per hour with remarkable endurance, requiring refueling only once every quarter-century. The lead helm’s sleek, digital interface controls both propulsion and direction, though a traditional steering wheel remains in place as an emergency fallback. The navigation officer oversees electronic and manual chart tables simultaneously, blending modern digital mapping with time-tested paper navigation methods for redundancy and precision. A short instructional video, recorded during our visit, captures Jones explaining these instruments in greater depth.
From the bridge windows, the sightlines extended across the harbor, revealing the *Truman* and *Lincoln* carriers moored nearby—a panorama that visually embodied the formidable scale of America’s naval capabilities. As the tour concluded after several hours aboard, a brief stop near the crew facilities confirmed one of the ship’s small but widely discussed design choices: the complete absence of urinals in favor of standardized, gender-neutral restroom facilities, reflecting evolving norms within the modern Navy.
The experience offered a profound perspective on the fusion of technological innovation, tradition, and discipline that defines the USS *Gerald R. Ford*. More than a vessel, it stands as a symbol of progress in maritime engineering and a floating demonstration of how history, strategy, and human ingenuity converge to support American presence and power across the world’s oceans.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/uss-gerald-r-ford-tour-largest-aircraft-carrier-2017-12
