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Yeah, that kinda ruins it a bit. That needs to be fixed before it can do anything, let alone become a good fighter. You can't say that an aircraft that suffers major structural failure in flight is 'good' at what it does, really. Yes, it was a worthy design, but it took some convincing of the Air Ministry to not cancel the Typhoon as a result of its technical difficulties by the likes of Roland Beamont, who saw some good in it. Interestingly, the Bf 109F suffered tailplanes breaking off initially, which required stiffening of the internal structure.
It was Beamont, while at Hawkers, who dived the modified aircraft at 500mph, making 'harsh' recoveries 'to see if the tail came off.' It didn't and 61/2 g turns were made at 5,000ft with no tendency to tighten up, showing another issue was also cured.
They were purchased to be Army co-op and low altitude air superiority fighters.
Well, OK then.
Here's a thought, could you argue that the Mustang when it went into service with the RAF in the army cooperation role was in fact in a secondary role that it wasn't purchased for, and it wasn't until it got the Merlin engine that it was able to fulfill it's primary role?
Here's a thought, could you argue that the Mustang when it went into service with the RAF in the army cooperation role was in fact in a secondary role that it wasn't purchased for, and it wasn't until it got the Merlin engine that it was able to fulfill it's primary role?
OK Steve, I'll go with that. It sounds good to me.