USS JOHN F. KENNEDY in general belongs to the KITTY HAWK class but JFK forms an own class because of the differences between both ships. USS JOHN F. KENNEDY is named in honor of the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy who was assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, TX.
USS JOHN F. KENNEDY is the current Reserve Operational Carrier.

General Characteristics: Awarded: April 30, 1964
Keel laid: October 22, 1964
Launched: May 27, 1967
Commissioned: September 7, 1968
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.
Propulsion system: eight boilers
Propellers: four
Blades on each Propeller: five
Aircraft elevators: four
Catapults: four
Arresting gear cables: four
Length, overall: 1,050 feet (320 meters)
Flight Deck Width: 267 feet (81.4 meters)
Beam: 128 feet (39.2 meters)
Draft: 36,7 feet (11.2 meters)
Displacement: approx. 80,950 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots
Planes: approx. 78
Crew: Ship: 3,117 Air Wing: 2,480
Armament: three Mk 29 NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, three 20mm Phalanx CIWS Mk 15
Homeport: Mayport, Fla.