us navy aircraft catapult operation?

Devon Kalberer: At launch, a release bar holds the aircraft in place as steam pressure builds up, then breaks (or "releases"; older models used a pin that sheared), freeing the piston to pull the aircraft along the deck at high speed

Leif Serabia: the pilot does not release the catapult.

Jannette Kotz: An aircraft catapult is a device used to launch aircraft from shipsâ€"in particular aircraft carriersâ€"as a form of assisted take off. It consists of a track built into the flight deck, below which is a large piston or shuttle that is attached through the track to the nose gear of the aircraft.Here you go hope it helps....Show more

Lawanna Livsey: ok never mind i think i figured it out this picture shows it pretty clearly:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Catapult_hookup....the right bar hooks up to the shuttle and the left holds it backill just give it to tom for putting in the links

Nicolas Cooley: when i was in, the flight deck officer would si! gnal the pilot when to go. the officer would stretch his arm out and point forward

Antone Youla: JP is exactly right, ...the pilot has nothing to do with the catapult. That is the job of the "Shooter" (an officer in a yellow flight deck jersey who makes all kinds of neat gestures to the pilot before he gives the final rev and the ORDER to shoot the plane by kneeling down and pointing his fingers toward the bow of the ship). The person who actually fires or releases the catapult is housed below the flight deck in a phone booth sized cubicle and is an enlisted person who waits for the signal from the "Shooter", then pushes a red plunger which releases the catapult and the rest is up to physics....Show more

Bob Pucella: the pilot has zero control of the aircraft until AFTER he is launched. they will not launch until he shows that his hand are OFF the stick.