Carrier Bush to be completed by mid-March

[unhappycamper]

Carrier Bush to be completed by mid-March
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 8, 2009 11:10:16 EST

NORFOLK, Va. — Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding says the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier will be completed by mid-March, about two months after its commissioning.

The George H.W. Bush is set to be commissioned Saturday at Naval Station Norfolk, with his son, President Bush, attending the ceremony.

A spokeswoman for the Newport News shipyard said Thursday the post-commissioning work includes minor touches such as painting and bigger details such as sea trials.

A commissioning before sea trials is a break from Navy tradition.

When delivered to the Navy, the carrier will have a crew of more than 5,000.


Article about this $6.2 billion addition to the fleet at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_bush_aircrafcarrier_010809/%2e

[BobRossi]

1. Won't have a rudder.

Will navigate using 'gut instincts', comes with lifetime AAA membership as it is expected to run aground frequently. Comes with complimentary 'Mission Accomplished' banner.

[Lasher]

2. Big rush to commission the USS Poppy before Junior is out of office.

This is the second time a US carrier was named for a living ex-president. They first broke that Navy tradition when they launched the Saint Ronnie.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. I predict the USS GHWB has all sorts of trouble on her trials...

...due to builder faults. It's dumb to rush any vessel, let alone a multi-system vessel like a CV, into service. Although she's the last of her class, she's considered a crossover to the next class, USS Gerald R Ford, so she's a testbed-of-sorts with new, untested systems.

By the end of her trials, they'll probably rename her USS PIA.;)

[ellenfl]

4. and will sink or be scuttled by mid-april. eom