An F/A-18A Hornet assigned to the Flying Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, a fleet replacement squadron for the F/A-18A and F/A-18D legacy Hornets, prepares to launch from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

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.