Furious followed Argus in adopting a flush-deck arrangement informed by extensive tests at the National Physical Laboratory in Twickenham. Rounded deck edges and other details were intended to reduce turbulence over the landing area. The clean aerodynamic layout nevertheless placed a chart and navigation position on the flight-deck centerline. It had to be cleared before aircraft could operate and was unavailable to the ship's command team during flying. The noise and obstruction around that position illustrate how solving airflow in isolation could create serious command and operating compromises.
Notable Point · 29:31-30:40
Wind-tunnel testing shapes the flush flight deck
National Physical Laboratory tests produced rounded deck edges and a flush deck intended to reduce turbulence, but the navigation position obstructed flight operations.