Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:27:24-1:27:41

Why a ski-jump LHD does not need an angled deck

Ski-jump ships normally operate aircraft that land vertically or with a short rolling recovery, removing the main reason for a conventional angled landing deck.

Amphibious Assault ShipsFlight DecksSki JumpsSTOVL AircraftWarship Design
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Should an LHD with a ski jump also have an angled flight deck?

Short answer

Usually not, because the aircraft using the ski jump can recover vertically or with a short rolling landing.

Notes

Ski-jump operations usually support aircraft able to land vertically or make a short rolling landing. Those recovery methods do not require the long separate landing path used by conventional carrier aircraft. Flight-deck geometry follows the aircraft's take-off and recovery system rather than serving as a universal marker of carrier capability.