How Bearn's lift cycles compared with British and American carriers

How long did British and American carrier lifts take to complete a cycle?

Their cycles were generally measured in seconds, with British examples around 50 to 90 seconds depending on aircraft weight and the source.

The comparison turns Bearn's awkward lift arrangement into an operational metric. Contemporary British figures vary, but an Ark Royal lift might take about 50 seconds for a fighter and about 90 seconds for the heaviest loaded aircraft. Bearn's center and after lifts required roughly three and five minutes, respectively. That difference limited how quickly aircraft could be moved between hangar and flight deck before crew skill even entered the calculation.