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**saruxanset** · 07-04-2008, 10:35 PM

Originally posted by Vanguard

Well, I don't know about these carriers. But you might just be able to land an A380 on a Nimitz class under absolutely optimal conditions.

The carrier would have to be moving at 31 knots into a steady 40 knot gale. And the A380 would have to be very light with no cargo and no fuel.

With that combination, stall speed could be as low as 80 knots. So the plane would have a relative speed of only 15-20 mph when it touches the deck. You could probably stop in less than 500 feet at that speed.

Of course it would be completely stupid. You are risking 5000 lives on the carrier to (possibly) save a couple of hundred on the plane. But it might be possible. A380's wingspan is 261 feet. You don't think that'd clip anything?

07-04-2008, 10:35 PM	#3
saruxanset Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 471 Senior Member	Originally posted by Vanguard Well, I don't know about these carriers. But you might just be able to land an A380 on a Nimitz class under absolutely optimal conditions. The carrier would have to be moving at 31 knots into a steady 40 knot gale. And the A380 would have to be very light with no cargo and no fuel. With that combination, stall speed could be as low as 80 knots. So the plane would have a relative speed of only 15-20 mph when it touches the deck. You could probably stop in less than 500 feet at that speed. Of course it would be completely stupid. You are risking 5000 lives on the carrier to (possibly) save a couple of hundred on the plane. But it might be possible. A380's wingspan is 261 feet. You don't think that'd clip anything?
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