BBC and the use of superlatives

[marisca]

When I was at school some time was spent on dinging grammar into my head with the consequence that I believe as absolute the concept that adjectives ending in "...er" apply to a subject number of 2 and "...est" to 3 or more. According to the BBC the UK is sending HMS Illustrious, our "biggest aircraft carrier" to the Philippines. Can anyone name the other 2 (or more)? Or could it be that the ability to carry a Lynx helicopter now makes a ship into an "aircraft carrier"?

[mm5aho]

HMS Ocean? Albion, Bulwark?
(is a helichopper an aircraft?)

And I forgot HMS Queen Elizabeth, and HMS Price of Wales. (though they don't float too well yet!)

[marisca]

Helicopters are indeed aircraft but an "aircraft carrier" surely denotes a vessel capable of launching and recovering fixed wind aircraft, not that the UK has any suitable planes.

The use of the term by the BBC may give the ignorant public the idea that the UK are still in the "Top Gun" league.

HMS Bulwark might have a problem launching and recovering a Tiger Moth, never mind a F-18

[Mark]

Helicopters are indeed aircraft but an "aircraft carrier" surely denotes a vessel capable of launching and recovering fixed wind aircraft, not that the UK has any suitable planes.

IIRC Illustrious isn't an Aircraft Carrier it's a Through Deck Cruiser.