The Barracuda's complexity contrasts sharply with the Swordfish's forgiving character. The older Swordfish was easy, gentle, and friendly to fly. The Barracuda could punish mistakes and was disliked for aspects of its handling and hydraulic systems. Higher performance and technical sophistication could impose a serious training and operating cost on a carrier air arm.
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Barracuda complexity versus Swordfish simplicity
Pilots faced a much more demanding Barracuda even though it represented the modern successor to the gentle and maintainable Swordfish.