The forward T-shaped lift can take an aircraft with its wings spread, while the open-sided aft lift uses cutaway geometry to do the same within a smaller footprint. A landed aircraft can therefore be struck below before its wings are folded, clearing the landing area more quickly. Midships arresting wires and marked landing sights also support recoveries over either bow or stern. Ark Royal's narrower lifts assume wings will be folded before descent, simplifying movement and stowage below while slowing deck clearance. The contrast reflects different operational bottlenecks: French experience emphasized recovery speed, while British practice focused on hangar congestion and organization.
Chapter · 31:27-35:41
Joffre's lifts reveal a different carrier-operations bottleneck
Joffre's unusual lifts could move aircraft with wings spread and support double-ended landings, prioritizing rapid deck clearance over British hangar organization.