https://www.twz.com/45101/uss-gerald-r-fords-captain-on-why-the-carriers-new-island-design-works
Basically, according to him, planes parked behind the island have to pull out onto the landing area to move forward to the catapults. To do so requires timing during recoveries. When told you can go forward, you go immediately, otherwise you louse up the landing cycle. On the older carriers, more planes were back there. And plane glitches would cause delays. More planes, more delays likely. Now, more planes are parked forward of the island already, and delays get sorted without messing up the recovery effort.
the Gerald R. Ford class of carriers was reduced in size and moved further aft? I am assuming it was due to the positioning of the deck edge elevators on the starboard side, and the weapons elevators on the hanger deck and continuing up to the flight deck. Both of these elevators then contributing to a smoother, unobstructed flow of planes and ordinance on both decks. Thanks.
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