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Old 8th Aug 2011, 00:45
  #1039 (permalink)  
FODPlod
 
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Facts and substantiation

The CVS and Harriers were paid for long ago whereas the Typhoons...(link).

You asked for facts and substantiation regarding reports that CdG's a/c were able to perform two sorties per day:
ABOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE -- U.S. Navy Lt. Patrick Salmon is getting ready for another day at work, strapping himself into the cockpit of his strike jet and roaring off this French aircraft carrier for his daily attack mission against Moammar Gadhafi's ground forces...

Caldwell, who has worked on several U.S. carriers, said the similarities between the two navies outweigh the differences, and said the major distinction was the number of sorties he handles a day. "On U.S. carriers we trap about 160 aircraft a day at sea, but here it's just 35-40 a day," he said...
According to the article you quoted:

...Some 20 aircraft have been based on the ship for sorties over Libya, including Rafales, Hawkeyes and attack helicopters."
Unless our US friend is lying, I make that two sorties per day for most aircraft.

The RAF has around 20 a/c based at Gioia del Colle. How does their sortie rate compare?
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