How did bridges evolve from tiny bamboo
walkways spanning streams to super-long

suspension bridges connecting islands? How did
buildings surge from ground-hugging townhouses
to cloud-busting skyscrapers? In a landmark, fourpart
CGI-driven series, Big, Bigger, Biggest reveals
the inventions that enabled structures to grow in
size and scale. The subject of this week’s film is the
world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz.
Big, Bigger, Biggest charts the engineering
evolution of a range of iconic structures that have
become part of modern living: skyscrapers,
bridges, aircraft carriers and airports. Each
programme begins by showcasing the largest
example of its kind and poses the question: ‘How
did it grow so big?’ Rolling back the clock and
winding down the scale, the shows then reveal
the inventions that allowed these structures to
gradually grow to such massive proportions.
This film reveals the stunning engineering
behind the creation of the USS Nimitz, the biggest
aircraft carrier in the world. Weighing over
100,000 tonnes, the vessel draws upon a history
of ingenious design innovations that enables it to
sail for 20 years without refuelling; house a crew of
6,000 people; launch a supersonic fighter jet
every 30 seconds; and detect enemy threats
nearly 300 miles away.
The Nimitz is one of the most complex
machines ever built. Amongst its many
remarkable features, this vast superstructure
boasts highly pressurised steam catapults that
can power 45,000-pound jet aircraft from zero to
165mph in just two seconds. It is also fitted with
an ‘arresting wire system’ that can stop an aircraft
travelling at 150mph in two seconds, bringing it to
rest in a 315-foot landing area.
However, the Nimitz is far more than a floating
airport – it is a city at sea, equipped to service up
to 6,000 personnel. Chefs prepare over 20,000
meals a day; hairdressers perform 1,500 haircuts
a week; and the ship’s post room processes more
than one million pounds of mail each year.
Powering all of this remarkable activity are
onboard nuclear reactors, which can provide
energy for over 20 years without needing to refuel.
Whilst the USS Nimitz represents the pinnacle of
naval engineering, it owes its existence and its
massive size to a series of historic engineering
achievements. This film charts the stories of seven
key inventions, embodied by seven landmark
aircraft carriers – giants of the warship world and
forerunners of the Nimitz.
Amongst these innovations is the refinement of
catapults, which were developed on the USS
North Carolina. The island control tower,
meanwhile, evolved on board the HMS Ark Royal.
Arrestor wires were perfected on the USS Hornet,
and the USS Midway aided in the development of
the armoured deck. Other design breakthroughs
include the pioneering use of nuclear propulsion
on the USS Enterprise and the invention of
‘mega-block’ construction techniques.
Using a state-of-the-art CG environment and
live-action footage, Big, Bigger, Biggest shows
how these refinements were applied directly to
the USS Nimitz, offering a detailed tour of the
ship’s facilities. A closer inspection of the carrier’s
island control centre reveals how the movements
of over 80 aircraft are tightly monitored and coordinated.
Plus, there is an exclusive look at the
vessel’s defences, which are capable of targeting
enemy fire from hundreds of miles away.
The film also lifts the lid on the nuts and bolts of
the Nimitz’s construction, revealing how modern
aircraft carriers are put together like huge 3D
jigsaw puzzles; requiring over 160 lifts from a
crane that can carry 900 tonnes – more than the
combined weight of two jumbo jets. These
incredible techniques and features combine to
create one of the true behemoths of the
engineering world.