HOW DO THEY BUILD AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

By modular construction, a process where smaller sections of the ship below the waterline are lowered into place in dry dock.

LIFTING OF LOWER BOW UNIT INTO PLACE

000316-N-0000W-015 Newport News, Virginia (Mar. 16 2000) -- The lower bow unit of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is lowered into place at the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding facility.

000316-N-0000G-007 Newport News, Virginia (Mar. 16, 2000) -- The lower bow unit of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is lowered into place at the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding facility. U.S. Navy photo.

LIFTING OF UPPER BOW UNIT INTO PLACE

060315-N-4780W-315 Newport News, Va. (Mar. 15, 2006) - The upper bow unit of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is lifted into place at Northrop Grumman Newport News. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. CVN 77 is the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and is scheduled for christening on Oct. 7, 2006 with delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2008. Photo by Mr. John Whalen courtesy Northrop Grumman Ship Building

060315-N-4780W-001 Newport News, Va. (Mar. 15, 2006) - The upper bow unit Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is lifted into place at Northrop Grumman Newport News. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. CVN-77 the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in late 2008. Photo by Mr. John Whalen courtesy Northrop Grumman Ship Building

060315-N-3363T-001 Newport News, Va. (Mar. 15, 2006) - The upper bow unit Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is lifted into place at Northrop Grumman Newport News. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. CVN-77 the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in late 2008. Photo by Mr. Rick Thompson courtesy Northrop Grumman Ship Building

CONSTRUCTION OF ISLAND STRUCTURE

060309-N-4780W-001 Newport News, Va. (Mar. 9, 2006) - The Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush’s (CVN 77), island upper levels are placed upon the lower levels to complete the island structure. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. CVN-77 the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in late 2008. Photo by Mr. John Whalen courtesy of Northrop Grumman Ship Building

000809-N-0000G-0017 Newport News, Virginia (Aug. 9, 2000) -- The forward bridge section of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) under construction at the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding facility.

LIFTING OF ISLAND STRUCTURE INTO PLACE

001111-N-0000D-002 NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia (Nov. 11, 2000) -- The island structure of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is lifted into place at Newport News Shipbuilding. Photo Courtesy of Newport News Shipbuilding.

001111-N-0000D-001 Newport News, Virginia (Nov. 11, 2000) -- The island structure of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is lifted into place at the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding facility.

060708-O-0000X-051 Newport News, Va. (June 8, 2006) – The completion of the last of 162 super lift evolutions scheduled during the construction of the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The lift placed the ship’s 700-ton island superstructure in position on the flight deck. George H. W. Bush is scheduled for christening on Oct. 7, 2006 with delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2008. Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Ship Building

INSTALLATION OF PROPELLERS

060426-O-4780W-009 Newport News, Va. (Apr. 26, 2006) – The propellers of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) are installed. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. CVN 77 is the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and is scheduled for christening on Oct. 7, 2006 with delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2008. Photo by Mr. John Whalen courtesy Northrop Grumman Ship Building

060426-O-4780W-015 Newport News, Va. (Apr. 26, 2006) – The propellers of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) are installed. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. CVN 77 is the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and is scheduled for christening on Oct. 7, 2006 with delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2008. Photo by Mr. John Whalen courtesy Northrop Grumman Ship Building