re: #237 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

The distinction should be basing mode. Sea based aviation—Navy. Land based aviation—Army.

The problem is that sea-based aviation requires slow ships to carry the planes, taking days or weeks to get anywhere. They also have load and turnaround limitations in operations, they are unable to carry heavy bombers, large refuelling tankers etc. and are especially vulnerable to attacks by ship-killing missiles and submarines.

Large aircraft require land-based airfields, such as the last outpost of the British empire currently on loan to the USAF, the unsinkable aircraft “carrier” Diego Garcia positioned in the Indian Ocean. You know it’s British, it has a Royal Mail postcode (BBND 1ZZ).