# HMS Queen Elizabeth Supercarrier launching and recovering F-35's **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hms-queen-elizabeth-supercarrier-launching-and-recovering-f-35s/822691 "2018-10-09T13:59:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hms-queen-elizabeth-supercarrier-launching-and-recovering-f-35s/822691/21 "2018-10-11T22:24:56Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > … I wonder how much extra take off weight the ski ramp allows as opposed to a pure vertical take off? … A lot, although I don’t have the precise figures available. While [the F-35B can do a pure vertical take-off](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW28Mb1YvwY), at least under the right circumstances, it can’t do so with a useful load of fuel and weapons. It needs a runway, at least a short one, to get lift from its wings to be able to get airborne with enough missiles / bombs and fuel to accomplish its planned missions. The ski jump basically means a shorter take-off roll, if I understand the math correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hms-queen-elizabeth-supercarrier-launching-and-recovering-f-35s/822691/22 "2018-10-11T22:25:54Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Is Canada going to start buying Russian, or just give up on having a military altogether? There are non-US NATO countries who make aircraft, you know [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hms-queen-elizabeth-supercarrier-launching-and-recovering-f-35s/822691.md?page=1)