The Federation Flagship?

[The Exile]

I know it's mentioned several times in TNG that Enterprise is the Federation Flagship, I'm just wondering if anyone remembers whether it's explicitly mentioned in the new movie. I know all the cadets were desperate to serve aboard, but even today Enterprise is a prestigious name in the military.

If the Big E was indeed the flagship, it does make the decision to crew it with a kid (relatively speaking) as captain, someone Starfleet posted to the middle of nowhere to keep him out of mischief as Chief Engineer, and a bridge staff still getting changed out of their academy uniforms, a little odd. You'd imagine that one of Starfleet's finest, most experienced and trusted Captains would get the job (as indeed he did on TNG) after Pike became unfit for duty. Why, also, would the flagship be sent on a five year mission (if we assume this was also the original intent for the Enterprise in the alternate timeline) where it's likely months could pass between its appearance near a federation system. Surely the flagship should be a visible and constant presence throughout federation space.

I can remember Pike saying the ship is brand new, but if it's not mentioned it doesn't necessarily follow that it's the flagship.

Here's where someone who's seen it fifteen times tells me the minute and second it's mentioned in the movie. Doh.

 

[rbnn]

No, it's never stated that the Enterprise is a "flagship."

Edit: This was incorrect, it was called a flagship, see below.

 

[Phily B]

I think it is called the flagship when Pike takes the seat, I think he says something about pomp and circumstance for our new flagship.

 

[Kpnuts]

"The maiden voyage of our newest flagship deserves more pomp and circumstance than we can afford today, the christening will just have to be our reward for a safe return"

 

[skep155]

I believe the 'official' explanation is that this timelines Constitution was designed partly in response to a presumed change in Romulan ship design after Nero's attack on the Kelvin. Hence the new constitutions systems are of a slightly different upgraded design to the rest of the fleet and only Cadets who have just gone through the academy have been specifically trained to operate them. Most senior starfleet officers are unfamiliar with the new layout. I recall that was Orci or Abrams explanation when questioned in an interview.

 

[Jax]

"The maiden voyage of our newest flagship deserves more pomp and circumstance than we can afford today, the christening will just have to be our reward for a safe return"

I bet someone will come around and state its not the flagship despite that line in the film

 

[Phily B]

"The maiden voyage of our newest flagship deserves more pomp and circumstance than we can afford today, the christening will just have to be our reward for a safe return"

I bet someone will come around and state its not the flagship despite that line in the film

Well it still explains why a bunch of cadets were on board for the most part, or a lot of cadets. I don't think everyone was a cadet.