Why are planes in the navy not operated by the air force?

John

Their general missions are vastly different and while the Navy has some heavy aircraft for transport and moving things it is nowhere near what the Air Force has. When any of the services want something today or tomorrow it is tasked to the Air Force and they supervising the loading of it, move and deliver it, and supervise the unloading of it. Most of the Navy's aircraft are tactical fighter type aircraft along with some ocean/sea rescue aircraft and a few other specialized type that are low in number. The Navy's tactical fighter program is heavily slanted towards carrier based aircraft while the Air Force's tactical fighter program is land based. The Air Force's primary mission being aircraft and flying has a huge inventory of heavy aircraft and other type of land based aircraft for a variety of missions and reasons. They train and maintain currency for their flight crews as well as maintain the maintenance facilities and the training for those personnel that maintain them much more cheaply than what another service could for a smaller number since other services are not already set up to fulfill that role but instead bring other things to the table for war fighting.

bugYA

The main reason is the tail hook and the added weight necessary for Navy planes to be strong enough to make carrier landings.

pepsiboy83

It would cause to many problems with inter service operations. Having the Air Force on carriers would not go to well.

bamapatsfan

The Navy and Air Force have different operational criteria for some aircraft. I am a 20 yr retired USN vet. Our aircraft mostly deploy on aircraft carriers and have different requirement that a typical land bases Air Force aircraft.

All US military branches have their own aircraft maintained by them. Each branch has similar aircraft but slightly different capabilities because they all have different missions to fulfill.

Beeker

Because Navy pilots are better :D

Cliff C

The Air Force can not operate where there is no golf course and it is way too expensive to put a golf course on an aircraft carrier.

ulo_olu

"Because Navy pilots are better :D"

Mark F

The Navy has aircraft because they have aircraft carriers. Why would the Air Force operate off navy ships? Don't you think having two different services with completely different chains of command might cause a problem?

RekonDog

Navy aviation has been around a lot more longer than USAF; why isn't USAF operated by the Navy? Kinda wish the Army would merge the USAF back into their Department once again. That'll teach the Chair Force a thing or three about military ethics and courtesy that they adamantly don't exercise properly. But we must have the USAF to strategically gain air superiority beyond the confinements of the sea...the navy aircraft can only be projected as far their boats can sail them to.

USAF are not naval seapower, what would the Marines do without the Naval and Marine aviation? USN are more skilled than USAF anyhow...I never seen finer pilots that are able to land on an aircraft carrier no bigger than a football field in the middle of the night while the boat is still moving....going mach speed.

Beatnick

Both the USN and the RN operate a fleet of aircraft carriers - this means that the navy can go to a war zone by sea and be flying over enemy terrotory within a few days with fighter aircraft screaming overhead etc.

To fly onto and off the deck of a bucking carrier at sea takes lots of skill and strong nerves. Thus navy pilots are among the very best.

USN - Landing on a carrier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsQIaDSBaP8

Why we, the US and UK + NATO must always be ready.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWP-d8DWM4c&feature=related

US aircraft carrier history
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yz8tgtL8q8&feature=related

Royal Navy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEsJfNKsPGA

USN ENS

Before the end of WWII, the Army had a division called Army Air Corps. Post WWII, it became the AF, creating its own branch. Why not ask why the Army has pilots? The Coast Guard is a greater opponent! The AF can't handle what they have now, why give them a nuclear powered ACC?

Mrsjvb

because they are NAVAL aircraft and perform different functions than Air Force aircraft. AF pilots couldn't land on a carrier.

and technically.. the ARMY has more aircraft than the AF does. mostly helicopters.

Scott Y

Read some History and you will find out.

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