Ark Royal's lifts, propulsion, and flight-deck workflow

Larger lifts create bigger openings in the flight deck and consume more hangar space, reducing aircraft capacity even as wingspans grow. Goodall's double-platform lift aimed to move aircraft from two hangars to the flight deck as quickly as if the ship had only one. He recalls the constructor finding inspiration in machinery beneath a cabaret dance floor. Early pessimism about triple-screw propulsion led to conservative power estimates, but the resulting efficiency matched that of a four-shaft ship. Captain Power's criticisms also prompted replies about moving arresting wires forward, reducing their number, and alterations to the island. These exchanges connect the designer's arrangements with experience aboard the ship.