Incredible Life Inside World's Largest $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is one of the most cutting-edge and expensive pieces of military gear that has ever been constructed. It is commonly believed that sailors aboard aircraft carriers work and live in harsh conditions, but this cannot be the case for those serving on the new Ford-class aircraft carrier. This aircraft carrier, which is estimated to cost somewhere in the region of $13.3 billion, provides incredible living conditions for the sailors who are stationed onboard. Let’s take a look at the incredible life of a US Navy Sailor on the world's largest $13 billion aircraft carrier. Apart from being a gigantic structure, Sailors' comfort is a centerpiece of the new supercarrier, USS Gerald R. Ford.
Sailors will call the ship home for an extended period. The aircraft carrier has more than you can imagine. It has large gyms, grocery stores, excellent air conditioning systems, specially equipped rest areas, and sleeping quarters.
An enlisted sailor serving aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz published a Facebook post that quickly went viral. The post displayed a variety of truly revolting-looking meals from the mess deck, including raw and bloody roast beef, bread edged in blue mold, and eggs with fossilized yolks.
The sailors serving on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford won't have to deal with a scenario like this since a variety of steps have been taken to ensure that the mess is in its best condition it has ever been.
There are several dining options for about 15,000 meals a day. One of the most notable differences between the Nimitz and the Ford regarding the provision of food is that the Nimitz has five galleys, while the Ford only has two. The Ford galleys include features such as a centralized galley located at the rear of the aircraft and a front galley that will only be staffed when the carrier's air wing is aboard. While this means the ship's food service crew will be more centralized and dish up more consistent, it also means that officers, chiefs, and enlisted sailors will be eating the same food -- even though they still eat on different mess decks.
#aircraftcarrier #sailors #usnavy

[@davidgross990]

Served in the '70's and '80's got to admit I never saw flight deck jerseys so clean.

[@alanbaxter7191]

How different from early 70's aboard USS Kittyhawk with CAG 11 A6's of VA 52. What we could do then was formidable, what can be done now is incredible! Semper Fortis!

[@cpace4031]

I was on the Coral Sea CV43 America CV66, and Retired as an AOC on the USS George Washington CVN-73.

[@vyneshindenmc6181]

I'm really loving your channel, your topics are spot on my favorite aspects in a navy channel. Keep it up!!!

[@navyproductions]

Thank you so much! 💙

[@mr.velvet4172]

I’m stationed on the Uss Gerald R. Ford most of this information is right but most of the footage is not actually of the ship.

[@bulk04]

Enjoy your visit to Halifax.

[@ghostboy9171]

I’m on the Vinson, are the beds better in the ford ?

[@royandrews7423]

R2d2 is not as good as they say , prone to many breakdowns

[@MrMcmenamin]

Quite a change from the carriers I was on in the mid seventies USS Forestall CV-59 and USS Constellation CV-64. I wonder if they still have long lines for chow!! AGCS(SW) ret

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

I've heard other countries measure their carriers in soccer fields instead of football fields. Makes me thankful I'm an American.

[@folive64]

The only country where football is appreciated is the US! Soccer, on the other hand, is loved all over the world. The world is wrong and America is right, right? America gives you many reasons to be proud of, but football is not one of them. By the way, why is it called football if players carry the ball with their hands? Uhmm...

[@davidking7209]

Definitely different from when I was in. I was on two Nimitz class carriers.

[@user-or8hx8ou3m]

America is NO.1 in the world.

[@petermarshall4733]

You know when you look at the price of an aircraft carrier against that of a modern nuclear submarine I think you get good value for the US Dollar.i am an ex British soldier at the age of eighty I do my best to keep up with what's new and what's coming over the horizon l would give a hole lot just to walk on ore ln one of these beautiful seafaring vessels .what a wonderful way of life for all the young men and women who serve on them .a safe passage to all .

[@scotttild]

No you don’t carriers are becoming obsolete, and its not 13 billion its more like 40 billion per when all the cost overruns are added in. 4 million per day to operate is an absurd amount of money to be spending on something that is limited to small regional conflicts. Its not the power protection it once was, they can be taken out with newer hypersonic weapons.

[@briancooper2112]

Thank you for your service, from a yank!

[@danielvroom2949]

I don' think many sailors will tell you it is a wonderful way of life. It is a duty, it is a unique experience, but you are away for months, you are in cramped spaces all the time, very little privacy; long hours, day after day. Might be better than a foxhole, but not wonderful.

[@danielvroom2949]

@@scotttild Not obsolete because only WWIII will an enemy use nukes against a carrier. It cost a potential enemy time, effort and money to keep track of the carriers. Just as it costs the USN time, effort and money to track hostile submarines. All part of the balance of power at sea. Any weapon they use against the carriers, is one less in your backyard. Until then they projects our power where needed.

[@akio2589]

It gets.... Pretty underwhelming when you spend years on one. Ask me how I know...

[@davescott686]

Proud to say this was built in my home town. Very proud of the Hampton roads area and our men and women that make this happen.

[@SweeturKraut]

I also live near the Newport News shipyard!

[@bbqsauce875]

Loser tax payer

[@davescott686]

@@bbqsauce875 what's that troll?🤡

[@andrejones7686]

I work at the shipyard that build this ship we working on the Kennedy now

[@pauljcomp6621]

Is the catapult finally working?

[@devastator226]

Amazing ship named after a amazing man ! A true MICHIGAN MAN ! Hail to the Victors !〽️

[@DailyMyChildhood]

That’s so cool ! 😍

[@magjov677]

GOD BLESSED AMERICA

[@michaeljgarforth1439]

Served onboard HMS Ark Royal Fixed Wing Carrier as a Blue Coat ( Tractor Driver/ Chockman 76/77. Miss that Avgas of Phantom/ Buccaneers.

[@johnmchale6667]

Great.

[@misterbig9025]

Do they have beer on board? I would love to have cold beer after a long day of hard work.

[@jamessephar9458]

No.

[@LexatNews]

the centralized galley can not be in the rear of the aircraft. It would cause a CG shift to aft which would cause a flying engagement.

[@robertmacfarlane8176]

Though officers are required to sample enlisted mess offerings, officers have a separate mess.

[@romeo9017]

When I served with the RN I spent most of my teaching the crew basic table manners and hygiene!

[@JoeMcCormick32174]

Pretty big upgrade from my Ranger

[@chucutitan]

The greyhound services can deliver tons of fresh groceries like lettuce and tomatoes. I remember sixty years ago in the Delta I would have done handsprings at seeing fresh produce.

[@larryfinner7491]

I was on the USS. Independence CVA 62. 1970-1973

[@frankcherry3810]

I have NEVER known a US Navy to serve food that was unfit to eat, even in wartime. My Dad was a Destroyer radioman in WW-2 and he told me the food was at worst ‘eatable’, but never unfit to eat. He told me he had a friend on an old 4 stack, coal fired Destroyer that he visited and said it was the worst environment he had ever seen. My Dads ship was the USS Grayson, and he was a ‘Plank-Owner’

[@raywhitehead730]

Bet your wrong. USA retired Marine & Navy Aviator.

[@johngparker557]

Thank you for serving our country all those people to serve on the ship thank you I may join you all too special if you eat five times a day I'm doing good I just eat one a day I would love to join you up but I'm too old but again thank you and eat well and eat something for me please thank you for serving

[@akio2589]

I was on the Bush when she launched and caught that drone. It sat in the hanger bay for a few days before they launched it. It's bigger than you'd expect it to be. I watched both happen from the vulture's nest. Wasn't as loud as the 18's and 22's. From a spectator's standpoint it was... Underwhelming. Uneventful, really. Technically speaking, a marvel of engineering, particularly the trapping.

[@scottwolf8633]

Habitability has always been number one for the Nav's surface combatants. But an 8 month deployment can get old.

[@SoapinTrucker]

"But an 8 month deployment can get old." YUP, especially wearing masks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :O

[@2centsworth766]

Marry the navy. Eight months will not seem long. If you have someone waiting for you, yes it could seem long.

[@scottwolf8633]

@@2centsworth766 When I served, only heterosexuals allowed. Yankin and bankin in the Taxpayers' airship is fun, but its still just a job. You married to your job?

[@jamessephar9458]

My career in the Navy I served onboard the USS MIDWAY (CV-41) and just a little bit of difference.......

[@kimballamram552]

Thank you for your service. What era did you serve in?

[@jamessephar9458]

@@kimballamram552 1975-1995

[@kimballamram552]

@@jamessephar9458 Were you a part of Operation Frequent Wind?

[@jamessephar9458]

@@kimballamram552 No.

[@jasonmbrown2795]

Flight deck width is (256') TWO hundred and fifty six feet or 78 meters, NOT 356'.

[@edhaskell469]

I spent time on two ships when I was in the Navy. The USS CONSTELLATION CVA 64 & the USS TERRELL COUNTY LST 1157. The CONNIE had 5,542 guys the day I departed, there was a sign in the personnel office. There were about 110 guys on the LST. I served on the LST first for about 11 months, then the CONNIE, about 6 months. The Carrier was really comfortable. Racks (our bunks) were way better, there was food served 24/7 & there was plenty of things to do apart from my job, Electrician Mate EM2. Petty Officer 2nd class. The LST is a flat bottom ship that gets tossed around like a cork in a bathtub. On the Carrier I played a lot of PINNACLE, on the LST I learned how to be a shipboard electrician. On a small ship in a war zone, Brown Water Navy, there’s a lot of responsibility. One of our sister ships, LST1167, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, HAD A HOLE BLOWN INTO HER SIDE & I LOST A GOOD FRIEND, On a CARRIER, in a war zone, the AIR-DALES (flight operations crews) worked their asses off. I really enjoyed my time in the military.

[@davidrichter9164]

Thank you for your service. I'd probably get sea sick.

[@edhaskell469]

@@davidrichter9164 Thank You Mr. Richter. I doubt if you’d get seasick on the Carrier, but that FLAT BOTTOM LST was like a roller coaster ride some times. The guys at the helm would have contest to see who could get the biggest list or roll in rough seas. Don’t remember what the record was, but I’m sure it was around 35 to 40 degrees.

[@Bruce-1956]

Are there smaller $13 billion aircraft carriers ?

[@jamesbillington5058]

I was on the USS Forrestal (CV-59). Quite a difference

[@jhollie8196]

Midway class for me.. USS Coral Sea, 77-80

[@DaveL188]

On the fid from 80 to 82. No one cared just the breaks of naval air.

[@tomhughes1849]

Same food for officers until the budget cuts come.

[@bigmikecvn71]

Wow! As a former Cook (MS) on CVN-71 I can’t get over the self Cleaning Ovens.

[@upwardcrayon5]

when were you on TR? I was a MS2 in S5 from 12/1990-8/1992

[@bigmikecvn71]

@@upwardcrayon5 1986 to 1989 plank owner.

[@russellmazoch3007]

What years?, I was there 1993-97 but airwing..VFA-87 Golden Warriors . My boot camp buddy Brian Wheelock was G-2 on TR

[@masterpieceicesculptures7029]

Yeah, wow! What a feature. The ovens clean themselves. F*$@ing amazing what they have these days. I've heard they have these new "microwave" things too! No wonder it cost $13 billion...

[@MadScientyst]

Yes, everything is impressive...BUT that bunk /room space is way too small man. Can't see how that could be comfortable & I'm pretty small in size compared to those well built personnel. To each his own I guess...LOL

[@AAa-cf1oe]

❤

[@billpotokar360]

...6:16... ya know , if the catapult on a thirteen BILLION $ boat is so great , they NEED a fighter that weighs almost EIGHTY THOUSAND POUNDS...

[@Foma_USA_White_Dragon]

CVN78 can come under Turkish bridjes I'm black sea on hight max?

[@SoapinTrucker]

Does anyone know, if this Carrier has Flagship installations, like extra offices, quarters, and galley? I'm guessing it does to some extent, she is certainly more TECH enough to command a Flagship status! LOL :)

[@danielmesery2904]

It's a City⛵

[@williamkruegerbill4143]

Bill Krueger What a difference from good ol Fighting I ! Or the America for that mater....

[@kendallkilgore7799]

13 billion...that is like one month of funding to Ukraine.

[@k.h.1587]

Thumbnail can't be ford, there are tomcats on it

[@richardhagan5600]

Jolly good or , F U f a 18 and the EMO gave off steam ... I fear the real test will be battle an ,don't flush the toiet . ( F UP'd 18 ) that is ,foot note ). Over and out .

[@bbqsauce875]

13 trillions in 3 wars!!! Don't come to peaceful 💯🇨🇦

[@garybailey4816]

What happens when is is surrounded by. 10,000. Attack drones

[@briancooper2112]

Does everything work on it now?

[@louiscervantez1639]

So are Nimitz sailors SOL?

[@sygnusadun4832]

Won't have to deal with food issues like that, my guy, about that water...

[@joie8465]

I'm good with airforce

[@ausarking536]

"Triple the amount of electrical capacity" whelp. R.I.P to my EM brothers and sisters on the Ford. Looks like yall are about to have way more work to do.

[@johng1758]

Probably my number 1 thing to do on me bucket list is to walk on a carrier. Idk how but there are people who get to spend 24 hrs on a carrier. I’m certain they are way more important people than I am, but still I would do anything for that chance. Maybe my wife could have an “accidental fall” from the flight deck just to top the experience off! Wow 🤔🤔🤔

[@ruel1072]

What do you mean 24 hrs? When deployed, you're onboard any ship 24-7 til you hit a port call. Same thing happens if you're moored but you have duty.

[@johng1758]

@@ruel1072 I mean, ordinary citizens are able to get aboard a carrier for a 24 hour time. They get a chance to watch the flight deck operations, taste the galley fare, all kinds of things

[@ruel1072]

@@johng1758 That's called a Tiger Cruise or Family Cruise. Try to find a Sailor (who's attached to a CVN) and be-friend him/her.

[@akio2589]

I can tell you from experience... It's neat for about... An hour. After that, it gets real annoying going up and down ladderwells... It's big, but that's about the only thing it has going for it. And the O2 deck is a labyrinth... And anything beneath the 2nd deck. That being said, when you spend several months on one, and that's all you see for weeks at a time... I s'pose one gets kind of jaded.

[@nickphillips3799]

Prior to 9/11 we were able to go on and visit navy ships when they entered Fremantle port. Been on the Kittyhawk, Constellation and Missouri. Plus some others I can’t remember just now. Aircraft elevators are amazing. It was great experience. But a thing of the past now.

[@Gardis72]

Why is there still steam coming from the launch ? I thought they were EMAL now? Steam gone, no?

[@johnc1643]

Good job defending USA.

[@josephguo6256]

could resist Poseidon nuke torpedo?

[@mrrobertwolfiii1079]

USA

[@abderrahimanasse5438]

Some shots last ones to explain to the chinese Guy where the 750 billions $ are used

[@burtman12]

Do they play Top Gun music everyday

[@navyproductions]

I don’t think so 😅

[@steveschierholz5272]

How is it incredible? Maybe pay the military more. Grócery stores? Nooo

[@daynadiggle8169]

This is done on purpose . Wouldn't want the enemy to have a look - see , now would we ?

[@williamturner1517]

Can we see where the aviators mess? Live? Where are the aviators?

[@sethfriedman2875]

Still, the best ship in the Navy is the USS Blue Ridge.

[@ruel1072]

Yes, if you don't want to deploy or take part in actual battle.

[@jamessephar9458]

Building 19?

[@ruel1072]

@@jamessephar9458 lol. That's what we all called it. Real Sailors don't look for an easy way out to call a "deployment".

[@jamessephar9458]

@@ruel1072 I was on the Midway, LOL.

[@ruel1072]

@@jamessephar9458 I was on Nimitz, Makin Island, and Valley Forge.

[@stewartbrashear5705]

My son was out to sea assigned to an air wing a total of 54 months on the Nimitz,Stennis,Carl Vincent and The Big Stick. He spent a total of $18,200.00 on his food because of his housing allowance for him and his family.His last deployment on the Nimitz ( probably the old boats last) he never saw daylight for 3 months and because their deployment was extended again that pretty much sealed the deal on any reenlistment for him. With the new “Woke” Richard craniums in charge a lot of higher ranking CPOs are hanging it up. Can’t say that I blame them with the incompetence at the top.

[@Foma_USA_White_Dragon]

Cheif cooker in CVN 78 takes vegans foods ? I am interesting ?

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

Quite a lot of money for something that would probably be lost within 24 hours of a real conflict at sea. Submarines everywhere, regard these as nothing more than "targets of opportunity." Our aircraft carriers may be the best in the world, but they're still medieval castles. It's quite a lot of eggs to put in one basket. As "a show of force" it seems to work, but it's still a show. Don't get me wrong,...they won't die easy or go down without a fight or unleasing hell. Unfortunately they won't survive either.

[@jamessephar9458]

Okay Admiral........

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

@@jamessephar9458 Okay you're right, I don't know what I'm talking about, except U.S. Super-carriers have been successfully attacked and sunk in recent war games. Once in 2015 and again in 2020. The "enemy" in both cased were submarines. One French and the other Swedish . The Swedish machine was a small (comparatively) cheap, diesel-powered.submarine. And these are by no means, the only cases to consider. U.S. submarines routinely send close-up pictures of U.S. carriers to their skippers, which are taken at periscope depth, off their stern. I have a son currently serving on a carrier and I'm concerned.

[@jamessephar9458]

@@jamesbaldwin7676 War games and war are two different things slick......

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

@@jamessephar9458 And all surface ships are nothing but targets. Even the possibility of a WW2 era submarine prowling about the Falkland Islands, caused a modern British carrier to retreat and leave the combat zone, during the Falkland Islands War. As it turned out, the war was over and all hostilities ceased, after the British nuclear submarine , Conqueror, slammed two Mark 24 torpedos into the light cruiser, General Belgrano, sending her to the bottom (1982.) This was no war-game slick.

[@kujtimhalimaj2326]

🗽🇺🇸🚢🛫💪

[@knowltonkakegamic9457]

I like Tugboat Trump.😂😂😂😂😂

[@djpomare]

Cheap homemade sea ski drones make carriers and subs a waste of human lives and money. Australia paid America 4 billion for 2 subs. 10K could have bought 3 sea skis at a garage sale. How many bamboo booby traps maimed Vietnam vets compared to those who were shot by the Viet Cong? If all of these low cost homemade options are successful, why does America still pay trillions on weapons?

[@pwilki8631]

Meanwhile our enemies stream across the southern border.

[@edhaskell469]

WE ARE BEING INVADED, AND biden/harris administration is complicit & should be charged with treason. We have a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC but our best interest are not even close to being met. WE MUST DEMAND POTUS & CABINET EITHER DO THERE DAMN JOB OR JUST FRICKEN LEAVE. TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT THE HELL UP.

[@raywhitehead730]

Over priced, waste of money!