can an aircraft carrier launch 2 fighter jets at the same time?

Barrett Alosa: I was going to reply that yes, they can, but I am not actually sure. I seem to recall movies where two are launched at the same time, but movies frequently do not reflect reality.For your purposes, you could certainly pose one aircraft most of the way down the launch track, and another at the starting point, so they would be launching one right after the other.You might get more informed answers if you posted this, and your other question about carriers, in Politics & Government > Military....Show more

Elden Dedon: Actually, the modern American aircraft carriers have four catapults: two at the bow, and two amidships. This allows them to launch an airplane about every 30 seconds, alternating the shots between the bow and the midships catapults. Alternatively, they can launch the aircraft from the bow catapults and simultaneously recover aircraft.You never want to launch two aircraft at the same time because of the risk of the midair collision. Stag! gering launches allows one plane to fly well clear of the carrier before launching the next plane....Show more