How Aircraft Went To Sea - From Biplane Barges to Aircraft Carriers (feat. Drachinifel)

Today we are joined by Drachinifel, who is helping us navigate the muddy waters of aircraft carrier development: beginning with the earliest concepts of manned kites and ending with the fleet carriers that went into WW2. Go check out Drachinifel's channel here -   / @drachinifel   Want to join the community? Visit our Discord -   / discord   Want to support the channel? I have a Patreon here -   / rexshangar   0:00 Introduction 1:43 Balloon and Kite Carriers: at the wind's mercy 4:01 Fixed wing aircraft enter the scene 5:22 The first seaplane carriers 11:00 Push/Resistance for and against seaplane carriers 17:53 Aircraft carrying ships in WW1 20:20 Jutland, a semi-missed opportunity 23:13 Aircraft "Lighters" (a.k.a towable barges) 27:56 The first true aircraft carriers begin to appear 31:35 The proposed Wilhelmshaven raid: a complete missed opportunity 38:48 Early British and Japanese carriers 43:18 The Washington Naval Treaty: the problem of tonnage 48:58 How the Naval powers worked out their carrier doctrine 54:21 Early carrier operations: how easy was it for pilots? 59:12 Carrier landing difficulties (with video footage) 01:02:30 The challenge of finding the carrier following a mission 01:08:06 Carrier aircraft of the naval powers: what influenced them? 01:16:29 Royal Air Force vs Fleet Air Arm 01:25:39 HMS Ark Royal: The best interwar carrier? 01:29:26 Drach's favourite early aircraft carrier?