Evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.
What warbird do I describe?
1. This aircraft was, by all accounts, a perfectly acceptable combat aircraft.
2. It was, in fact, probably superior to any enemy combat aircraft of the same type and flying at the time.
3. It was, however, always compared unfavorably to another aircraft of the time.
4. The other aircraft was flying at the same time; and flying for the same side.
5. And so our subject aircraft became the “ugly sister” to the preferred aircraft.
6. Still, significant numbers of our subject aircraft were produced; although not nearly as many as the “preferred” aircraft.
7. The pilots who flew both were almost universally adamant in their loudly voiced preference of the other aircraft.
8. And, they made their voices heard.
9. Although at least two pilots preferred our subject aircraft.
10. And, since one of the two was very well known; and part of the selection team; the authorities produced our subject aircraft. Which gave him the opportunity to fly our subject in combat.
11. However, I can find no record of this pilot actually flying our subject aircraft in combat.
12. He did, however, score a number of victories while flying the “preferred” aircraft.
13. Like everyone else, when he had a choice, he preferred to plant his backside in the other aircraft.
14. Our subject aircraft could dive even faster than the preferred aircraft.
15. And could at least match it in level flight.
16. But our subject aircraft was usually referred to as being heavy or clumsy on the controls.
17. While the preferred aircraft was light, quick and seemed to respond faster to control input.
18. And it almost seemed to anticipate control inputs.
19. The comparison of a plow horse and a race horse seems appropriate.
20. Delivery of our subject aircraft was delayed by difficulties with the cooling system.
21. Even so, from first flight to first delivery to the field was only a matter of four months or so.
22. The design of the wings was openly copied from a foreign design.
23. One noted for being very rugged, and able to dive without any fear of the wings folding up or being damaged.
24. And one specifically noted by our subject aircraft’s military air service as being well designed.
25. In fact, our subject aircraft was created, in a sense, by combining that copied wing with an earlier aircraft from the same factory as our subject. There were some changes made as testing progressed, but essentially our subject was created thusly.
26. The airfoil section was rather thin, as was the wing that was copied.
27. Our subject was criticized as having an abrupt stall, as were most planes in those days; the preferred aircraft being the exception.
28. Our subject needed a long takeoff roll, as compared to our preferred aircraft.
29. And it had a tendency to “float” when landing.
30. Which, given the landing gear was considered to be weak, created problems.