After reminding us of the origins of the British CVF programme, the author examines the complexity of the issue. How can the requirement be met? What kind of carrier? What type of embarked aircraft? A parallel dilemma concerns the constructors and organisations concerned (prime contractor, work-sharing) in addition to problems of timescale, and costs which rise rapidly in the absence either of consensus or decision. The author mentions the ‘French Connection’, expressing the hope that he will one day see the two CVFs and the French PA2 actually at sea.