USS Gerald R Ford commissioned.

[22A]

Fox News reporting America's latest carrier is being commissioned today. The first new design since the Nimitz class forty years ago.
An electro magnetic catapult is fitted and 75 aircraft will be embarked. To present a smaller target, the carrier is smaller than the Nimitz and has a smaller crew, but in greater comfort. The cost was $12.6 billion, a 50% overspend, but the USN claim, it's an investment. "The last person to command this ship has not yet been born".
The reporter stated that the carrier now has to try out all the new systems on board, so it will be several years before this carrier can be deployed.
One of the dignatories making speeches commented that Gerald Ford rescued America's constitution when he was appointed president. idle thought; will we ever see a USS Richard M Nixon?

[Vulcanone]

The names for the next two carriers are CVN 79 John F Kennedy and CVN 80 Enterprise, I don't know if they have got any further with other names.

[Precinct7]

don't think there will ever be a Nixon, or Carter who made massive cuts to the military budget,

Clinton ? 50/50

but so will a man or women ever be born to command USS Donald Trump CVN-8x discuss or perhaps not !! :o)

[Richard E]

don't think there will ever be a Nixon, or Carter who made massive cuts to the military budget

The last of the three Sea Wolf Class submarines was named for Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) in 2004; Carter was the only US president who served in submarines, serving on the USS Pomfret (SS-391) between 1948 and 1951.

[Precinct7]

Thanks Richard did not know of his Navy service

[22A]

Today for the first time a F/A 18 was launched using the electro magnet catapult. The a/c then landed on the carrier, so it is capable of launching & recovering. So many other on board systems still to be checked out though.

[Mavke]

i wonder if they can launch a full loaded f-18 aswel, now it only had a fueltank and 4 sidewinders ...