A U.S. Navy aircraft director guides an F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft from Strike Fighter Squadron 102 into position during flight deck operations aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) on Aug. 21, 2006 in the Indian Ocean. The Super Hornet is an all-weather, carrier-based fighter/attack aircraft that provides Carrier Strike Group with increased range, endurance and ordnance-carrying capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Communication SPECIALIST 3rd Class Jared D. Benner) (Released)

Aircraft carriers are warships that act as airbases for carrier-based aircraft. In the United States Navy, these consist of ships commissioned with hull classification symbols CV (aircraft carrier), CVA (attack aircraft carrier), CVB (large aircraft carrier), CVL (light aircraft carrier), CVN (aircraft carrier (nuclear propulsion) and CVAN (attack aircraft carrier (nuclear propulsion). The first aircraft carrier commissioned into the United States Navy was USS Langley (CV-1) on 20 March 1922.