“There are those who have flown them and those who have not, and it is idle for the former to try to explain matters to the latter.”
Fault Finders
Key Takeaways:
- The Spitfire, initially a highly praised design, saw its handling qualities significantly deteriorate over its development as increasingly powerful engines burdened its original lightweight airframe, leading test pilots to advise against its further perpetuation.
- Many World War II fighters presented pilots with challenging flying characteristics, including complex altitude-dependent performance, difficult handling quirks (like the Spitfire's heavy controls or the Corsair's low-speed issues), and often cramped or uncomfortable cockpits.
- The P-51 Mustang, especially after being re-engined with the British Merlin engine, was transformed into a "world beater" and consistently praised by test pilots for its superior handling, including excellent roll control, outperforming even later Spitfire marks in some aspects.
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