Some senior naval officers accepted unification because they expected the new RAF to train all pilots for carrier work and keep aircraft suitable for shipboard operations. In effect, they imagined receiving an RNAS without paying for a separate service. Others warned from the outset that a land-focused Air Ministry would not preserve those priorities. The failed assumption, including the belief that Admiralty political power could rewrite the settlement later, becomes an example of institutional hubris.
Notable Point · 7:41-8:42
The Admiralty expected a free naval air service from the RAF
Some naval leaders assumed the RAF would train every pilot and make every aircraft carrier-capable, or that Admiralty influence could reverse the arrangement later.