Denial of the use of carriers, whether through host nation decision or tactical circumstance, has happened. Coral Sea.
But, we are getting off the point of the thread. We already have this argument taking place elsewhere.
I wait to see how the flight trials go with the VSTOL version, when it eventually flies.
(- I should point out that bring back is not just a VSTOL/CTOL debate. One of the main selling points of the F18E/F is the far superior bring back capability v that of the C/D)
[This message has been edited by ORAC (edited 22 September 2000).]