NORFOLK, Va. – The future USS Gerald R. Ford returned Friday from its very first set of Builder’s Sea Trials.
The aircraft carrier spent six days at sea testing the ship’s systems, components and compartments.
Sailors from the Ford, shipbuilders from Newport News Shipbuilding, the Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Naval Sea Systems Command staff worked side-by-side to test many of the ship’s systems and technologies.
While they were out to sea, the ship also assisted with a medevac operation for a Sailor on board the USS Oak Hill. An embarked MH-60S helicopter from the “Sea Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 conducted a medical evacuation to help the Sailor, who was suffering a medical emergency.
Construction on the Ford began in 2009. The Ford is expected to be commissioned later this year.
RELATED:
Sailor suffers medical emergency aboard USS Oak Hill, taken to Portsmouth for treatment
Future USS Gerald R. Ford heads to sea for very first time
Navy’s newest carrier Gerald R. Ford is 99 percent complete
Video: Aircraft landing system tested on carrier Gerald R. Ford
