Aircraft growth drives carrier and air group tradeoffs

The Sopwith Cuckoo and F-35B show how much heavier, faster and more heavily armed carrier aircraft have become. The comparison moves from an early aircraft weighing under two tons fully loaded to an F-35B weighing about 14.75 tons empty and over 27 tons loaded, roughly fourteen times the earlier loaded weight. The F-35B has a smaller wingspan and a longer, taller fuselage, so its external dimensions have not grown at the same rate as its weight. It also combines air combat, sensing and a far larger weapons load in one platform. Carriers must provide stronger decks, larger support systems, more fuel and stores, and enough space for aircraft that tend to grow during a ship's service life.