World's oldest aircraft carrier discovered rusting by the River Thames

[lenny100]

OK who is going to build this?
World's oldest aircraft carrier discovered rusting by the River Thames

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1361523/Worlds-oldest-aircraft-carrier-discovered-rusting-River-Thames.html#ixzz1FHlienp0

[jcf]

It's nice that they are going to restore the old lighter, however calling it an 'aircraft carrier', with all that title implies, is a real stretch.

[pyro-manic]

Typical Daily Mail exaggeration, but an important find nonetheless. I will go and have a look when she's finished - I live not far from Yeovilton.

[Old Wombat]

It's like calling some guy in a coracle with a bow & arrow the predecessor of the battleship.... ....It's a long way off but it is the first step in that direction, as is this lighter.

[PR19_Kit]

My local BBC station said the same thing, which earned them a phone call from me! But they said their information actually came from the Press Office at Yeovilton!

Methinks someone there is 'gilding their lily' a bit, but as the FAA doesn't have any aeroplanes any more I suppose they have to do SOMEthing to make themselves feel worthwhile.

I'm sure I've seen some piccies somewhere of one of those Short 184 floatplanes, the ones with the VERY long wings (I would notice that, wouldn't I?  ) being hauled up to flying speed sitting on a sort of monster rush mat towed behind a destroyer at some awesome speed before it lifted off. This was apparently so it could take-off with a heavier fuel load than it would be able to if it just did it under its own engine power. Can I find that piccie anywhere? NO way! 

That rush mat would count just as much as the lighter I think, but it would be pretty un-impressive!

[Weaver]

How about an updated version, for these straightened times: short, under-armed 1/700th Type-26 towing a 1/350th LVT with a Lynx platform on it.... 

Then again, maybe we shouldn't do it in case the MoD and the Treasury hear about it and it stops being a what If....

[PR19_Kit]

Then again, maybe we shouldn't do it in case the MoD and the Treasury hear about it and it stops being a what If....

Don't forget that Menwith Hill is reading every one our postings on here. I'm sure they'd pass on the information. Indeed, they probably already have! 

[P1127]

Have they not had that for years? I'm sure I saw it when I was there in 1999.

Or have they now got two lighters?

[Nigel Bunker]

And I thought he was referring to this: