Furious and the dead end of a split flight deck

Furious's lower flying-off deck anticipated simultaneous launch and recovery, but the idea depended on aircraft remaining small. Contemporary experience already showed aircraft growing in size, weight, and takeoff requirement. Guns beside the opening disturbed airflow and added hazards at the precise point where early aircraft needed a clean run. The Royal Navy later closed the lower opening rather than fully rebuilding the ship, leaving volume that a continuous hangar and flight deck could have used for a larger, more adaptable air group.