Fault Finders

Monday, November 12, 2018 at 07:00 PM ET

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The Spitfire prototype first flew in March 1936, with a 1,000 hp engine. Flying

Key Takeaways:

The Spitfire, initially lauded, saw its handling qualities steadily decline as its light airframe was increasingly over-engined, leading test pilots to deem later marks challenging and even hazardous.
Many World War II fighters, despite their power, presented pilots with significant flying vices and often uncomfortable cockpits, making performance comparisons complex due to varying supercharger settings and altitude dependency.
The Merlin-powered P-51 Mustang stood out as a "world beater," earning widespread praise from test pilots for its superior handling, particularly its roll control, compared to its contemporaries.
Test pilots were crucial for their objective and often "unwelcome truths" about aircraft flaws, providing vital feedback for design evolution and understanding operational limitations.

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“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.”

Peter Garrison taught himself to use a slide rule and tin snips, built an airplane in his backyard, and flew it to Japan. He began contributing to FLYING in 1968, and he continues to share his columns, ""Technicalities"" and ""Aftermath,"" with FLYING readers.