Akron's hangar could hold three small Sparrowhawks or two larger N2Y trainers because an obstructing beam prevented use of two intended parking positions. Within that limited capacity, successful hook-on recoveries quickly demonstrated the flying-carrier system. The pilots then repeated the manoeuvre with members of the House Committee on Naval Affairs aboard. Demonstrating recovery to lawmakers gave them direct experience of the capability whose funding the Navy sought to sustain.
Notable Point · 1:11:11-1:13:09
Proving aircraft recovery in front of lawmakers
A working hook-on system let the Navy demonstrate airborne-carrier operations to legislators, despite the hangar obstruction that reduced Akron's air group.