Originally Posted by
Pontius Navigator
USN of course has several.
And there is where you contradict yourself Pontious old chap.
The left handed circuit has been around since flying began. It's the old standard, from way back when we were flying the likes of the Vickers Vimy. I'm still not sure why, but it has been suggested to me that as most pilots are right handed, it seemed natural in the early days of aviation to fly left handed circuits. It's how the brain prefers it apparently, with all that cross-lobe activity. A doctor can explain it better I'm sure!
As for side by side cockpit arrangements, you're right that pre-war there was nothing doing in that department. However there has been many an aircraft since. And not just in the USN.
I would suggest that seeing as the vast majority of carriers throughout history have been built since WW2 the original comment by wensleydale was not such a silly one after all.