The Navy and the Air Force have different missions. Naval aviation is about strike power and temporary air superiority. The Air Force is more about holding an air advantage and accomplishing the other air missions as well - a large part of the Air Force is about logistics. read more
As of Sept. 30, 2012, the USAF Almanac listed the total amount of aircraft in service in the Air Force at 5,551. As of May 27, 2014, the regularly updated "status of the Navy" webpage listed the number of operational aircraft at 3,700 plus. read more