Naval aviation is the application of military air power by
navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or
helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of
aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval
forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a nation's
coast guard. An exception to this is the United States Coast
Guard, which is considered part of U.S. naval aviation. Naval
aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target
by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier aircraft must be sturdy
enough to withstand demanding carrier operations. They must be
able to launch in a short distance and be sturdy and flexible
enough to come to a sudden stop on a pitching deck; they
typically have robust folding mechanisms that allow higher
numbers of them to be stored in below-decks hangars. These
aircraft are designed for many purposes including air-to-air
combat, surface attack, submarine attack, search and rescue,
materiel transport, weather observation, reconnaiss