Q&A ยท 1:41:27-1:41:59

Why a catamaran carrier complicates landings

A very wide multihull creates greater height differences across its flight deck as it moves in a seaway.

Question

How practical is a catamaran aircraft-carrier design?

Short answer

Its wide deck is attractive, but the beam amplifies height variation across the flight deck and complicates landings.

Notes

The broad beam looks attractive because it offers a large deck. In practice, roll and wave motion create a larger vertical difference between opposite sides of that deck than on a narrower monohull. That changing landing surface makes carrier approaches more demanding.