The initial target raises the air group from about twenty-four aircraft to at least thirty-six, requiring roughly fifty percent more hangar capacity. That percentage refers to the hangar proposal, rather than the whole ship's displacement or dimensions. Deck-edge lifts are estimated to release room for about six aircraft, with further hangar growth adding another six. The discussion then considers going beyond thirty-six to forty-two aircraft: twenty-four Harriers, twelve anti-submarine Sea Kings, and six early-warning Sea Kings. These are successive design possibilities rather than a completed ship specification. An earlier program for four ships is intended to allow Hermes, Invincible, and Illustrious to sail south together.
Notable Point · 4:52:39-4:54:36
A forty-two-aircraft Invincible air group
The proposal first increases Invincible's hangar capacity by about fifty percent, then considers a forty-two-aircraft group with twenty-four Harriers and eighteen Sea Kings.