Mark VII Landing Craft Deck Plans

[boilerman]

Nice work Daryk. Your pdf really makes me wonder about the size of aerospace fighter and small craft bays.

[Daryk]

Thanks!  And yes, bays must be huge... I think it helps explain the low density of at least some of the Jumpships and Dropships.

[boilerman]

I did a very rough calculation of the density of a Nimitz class carrier years ago. I came up with a rough estimate of 0.1 to 0.2 tons per cubic meter, fully loaded. Use the low estimate and BT DropShips have only about a tenth the density. I think BT ships have much too low density.

Just my opinion. Please excuse the threadjack.

[Daryk]

No worries... As far as the NIMITZ (my ship back in the day), part of the difference is going to be the fission plants (yes, plural) and their attendant lead shielding, plus high strength steel for just about everything else.  Also, the structure required to resist the pounding a ship hull takes from the sea is a completely different beast than that necessary to survive reentry and spaceflight in general.