Land-based aircraft gave France flying experience, but they could not teach the navy how to integrate aviation with ships at sea. Shore units could improve aerial tactics and general flying capability without building the habits required for fleet operations. Giving them more emphasis could also threaten established submarine and destroyer priorities inside the French force structure. Counting French aircraft ashore therefore does not answer why carrier aviation remained weak.
Notable Point · 6:24-7:30
Why land-based aircraft could not replace fleet aviation
Land-based aircraft could develop flying skill, but they did not give the French Navy the shipboard integration and force-level experience needed for true naval aviation.