There's one word that best describes the USS Ronald Reagan: Big.
The U.S. navy aircraft carrier is 333 metres long -- the length of 21/2 CFL football fields. It's about 25 stories tall and usually carries about 4,600 people and 65 aircraft, but can hold up to 5,700 people and 85 aircraft if necessary.
It's so big, it has its own zip code, post office and news magazine.
Anchored in the waters outside the Esquimalt harbour for the international naval fleet review, the ship presents an imposing figure against the skyline of the Inner Harbour and James Bay.
From the outside, the vessel -- built in 2001 and based out of San Diego -- is unremarkable. But inside, the Ronald Reagan is like its own city -- a $5-billion US engineering marvel.
"We say this ship is 97,000 [imperial] tons of steel and sex appeal, because we have a nice phallus, if you will, that protrudes out the front," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Alex Tidd, tour guide and managing editor of the ship's twice-weekly news magazine. "It's unique to our ship and the ship before us. It's called a bulbous bow, and it actually keeps us a lot more stable than the other carriers."
The ship is fueled by nuclear reactors housed on board, and features four of the most-powerful aircraft elevators in the world, said Tidd. Four hangers on board, with 12-metre-high ceilings, are reminiscent of a Costco warehouse, with wooden palettes and yellow forklifts along the sides.
The flight deck has catapults that shoot aircraft into the sky -- the flight deck is capable of launching a plane every 30 seconds and landing one every minute. But at a height of 30 metres above the water, you
wouldn't want to fall off.
"We did have a sailor fall off once," recalled Tidd. "We had him back on the ship in 10 minutes."
Even in the peaceful waters around Victoria, the Ronald Reagan is heavily guarded. Camouflaged soldiers with threatening rifles kept watch around the ship as other sailors returned from downtown trips, armed with shopping bags and dinner from KFC.
With 22 the average age of sailors on the ship, many of the those running the mammoth vessel look somewhat baby-faced.
"I never would have thought I'd be directing
$30-million aircraft at this age," said 24-year-old airman Charles Browning. "When we're out at sea, it's a rush. It's very hectic because we'll have 15 jets moving at once. You've got to watch your back and keep your head on a swivel because they are dangerous."
The ship is a beacon of opportunity for the crew, providing young men and women a chance to see new places. "I just like travelling around the world, man. It's all good," said airman Keith Warner, 21. He said his favourite destination so far has been Thailand. "$100 will buy you anything you want."
