Megan's shot of the flight deck of the Melbourne (The "War Canoe") just shows what guts the Air Arm lads had to operate Skyhawks and Trackers off that piddly deck. A story goes that the RAN Skyhawks were invited to do some crashes and dashes on the deck of a US carrier - which the lads leapt at.

After the sortie, they invited the US Navy to come for some circuits on the Melbourne. The yanks joined the circuit, looked at the deck, and went home.

Here you go... airforce introducing a brand new system to combat ready within two years. And don’t tell that is because the F-35 is so much better cause it isn’t... It also has its problems but the airforce has found solutions how to “work with it”.
https://amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampprojec...ticle/13017700

Lot of myths about "M" and aircraft that could operate to the deck. Fact is the Tracker was the biggest wing span wise that could operate safely - too far to starboard and you cleaned up the Island.
The A4 was again acquired as that aircraft could safely fly to the deck. The TA4 could not.
There were plenty of USN exchange pilots, both A4 and S2 (and helo), who happily flew to "M"'s deck.
One exchange officer went on to lead the Blue Angels - but that's another story.
Finally what air force and army don't understand is that a ship like "M" and the latest Canberra and Adelaide are usually the main body and asset of a task group and air assets are the last thing on the Captain's mind should the crap hit the fan.
BTW Frank Riley was my instructor - a finer man and pilot I've never met!!
I still have a .303 with his initials FTR stamped into the receiver that he gave me in 1968