by SandWyrm
Since Korona couldn't find a link... here's a 2006 video of a Super Hornet making a very short-distance takeoff.
Now imagine this on the Prince of Wales with the ship turned into the wind and a ski-jump assist. A catapult would still allow more ordinance to be carried, but half a load on a Super Hornet beats nothing on a non-existent F-35.