That may have been the plan. It seems the UK will have around 24 jets by 2021. That seems to be what the current planned operation wing will comprise, but doesn

That may have been the plan. It seems the UK will have around 24 jets by 2021. That seems to be what the current planned operation wing will comprise, but doesn't allow any for training, working up and maintenance[0]. The carriers are designed to carry 36 planes each. So I would say it is true. Yes it is planned to work up the ship for operational deployment using USMC F35's if they are available in time. Regarding the long timescale, the Audacious class Ark Royal carrier had an operational life of 24 years, so I would say not having the air wing ready until 3 or 4 years after commissioning is a pretty serious procurement issue. You have to remember that the UK does't have any carrier pilots (unless seconded to the US, but certainly not a squadron) waiting to just do a type conversion, you would have hoped that some aircraft were available to work up pilots before the ships are commissioned. This is also ignoring the cats-and-traps vs VTOL debacle and the propulsion debacle that delayed both carriers. It makes you wonder actually, had the carriers not been delayed by this, they may have been ready even more years before the aircraft [0]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/09/usmc_will_fly_f35s_on_hms_queen_elizabeth_first_op_deployment/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/09/usmc_will_fly_f35s_o...