Can anyone give me a simple reason why all aircraft of this "type" can't be made to operate from both land and carriers? Surely the so-called "economy of scale" could apply here. After all, the old Buccaneers used to do it..and of course the Harrier could even land on an RFA or (once) on top of a loaded container ship. Just a thought. BY.
Simply put they can.
Sorry to disagree RaaArtyGunner, but...
Simply put they can't.
As far as materials used, (apart from a couple of areas) - they are the same, corrosion protection/prevention is the same, (maybe more frequently on the naval aircraft).
Now take a 'modern' fighter or strike aircraft, they are designed to operate as land based aircraft, and there are a couple of areas that need modifying to operate off a carrier.
Okay, I'll give you a known example, and roughly what was needed to make it 'catapultable' and 'take the RHAG as normal and not an emergency'.
The BAe Hawk was bought by the USN as a naval trainer - the T45 Goshawk.
I started writing War and Peace here and then decided to paraphrase it as follows;
Numerous modifications were required to make it suitable for carrier operations. These included improvements to the low-speed handling and a reduction in the approach speed. Other changes were strengthened airframe, wider stronger landing gear with catapult tow bar attachment and ahook. It features a twin nose wheel gear partly for strength, partly for the tow bar attachment.
A lot of work involved in this I'm sure you'll agree
Now consider what would be needed to convert a Tornado or Typhoon to the same spec - I included the Tonka as the landing gear was designed with possible carrier ops in mind, but not the rest of the airframeas the idea was quashed quite early on. Now look at the nose gear on Typhoon and think firstly what would be needed to convert to a twin-wheel setup capable of taking catapult loads and where you're going to put it. Now secondly, do the same for the hook.
The reason I said 'modern' fighter etc., is because the previous generation of aircraft that the WAFU's used to operate from a rolling, pitching, moving, very short runway - was because they were designed for naval operations, (even the US F4's), and the Air Force ops came later.
Mark.