Why does public discussion often treat CATOBAR as the only correct carrier design and dismiss STOVL?
Short answerThe bias is strongest among procurement enthusiasts, not the general public, and reflects familiarity with particular naval models.
NotesThe answer rejects the premise that the wider public holds a strong CATOBAR-only view. That attitude is associated more with procurement debates and observers accustomed to US carrier practice, while most people recognize a flight-deck ship with either catapults or a ski jump as a carrier. CATOBAR offers the strongest engineering and aircraft-performance case, but it may not be the best strategic fit for every navy. Britain could have made STOVL easier to explain by pairing its carriers with several common-aircraft LHDs, spreading the F-35B across both ship types. Popular images such as American supercarriers and Top Gun also shape what an aircraft carrier is expected to look like.