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The Punchline

What would you do with an aircraft carrier?

Katharine Crnko Mar 29, 2011
 
HMS Ark Royal

For sale: One aircraft carrier — slightly used, DYI opportunity — courtesy of the Royal Navy.

Have you ever wondered what a military-run eBay would have for sale? How about the HMS Ark Royal, the former flagship of the Royal Navy, which is now for sale on the military auction website Edisposals.com.

The Ark Royal was decommissioned earlier this month as part of defense spending cuts. In an effort to profit from the decommission, the Royal Navy has offered bidders until June 13th to submit a bid and a proposal for what to do with the aircraft carrier.

No minimum price was set.

The British government sold another carrier last week, the HMS Invincible, which was towed to a Turkish scrap yard.

While the Ark Royal could face a similar fate, many have proposed alternative ideas, including parking the carrier in the Thames as a commercial heliport, as well as a base for special forces to provide security at next year’s Olympic Games.

Interested parties are invited to visit the vessel on May 3rd and 4th at her home port, Portsmouth Naval Base.

The website Edisposals.com is run by the Defense Equipment and Support arm of the Ministry of Defense, which is also selling three Type-42 destroyers, HMS Exeter, HMS Southampton and HMS Nottingham.

What would you do with your own aircraft carrier? Turn it into a night club? Commute to work with some added flair? Host the world’s greatest rock concert? Tell us in the comments section, or submit your own bid and proposal.

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