Q&A · 1:05:26-1:06:01

What a Blackburn Skua successor would improve

A successor to the Blackburn Skua could improve its flaps and dive-braking features, but watertight aircraft compartments are judged impractical.

Question

Would a Blackburn Skua successor have watertight compartments, improved Zap flaps and a better Skua-style dive brake?

Short answer

Improved flaps and dive-braking features are plausible, but watertight aircraft compartments are not.

Notes

A Fleet Air Arm dive bomber could receive better Zap flaps and a refined version of the Skua's dive-braking arrangement. Those changes fit the normal progression from one aircraft design to its successor. Improved waterproofing is also plausible, while genuinely watertight internal compartments are rejected as unrealistic at this stage. Naval-aircraft requirements still had to balance operations at sea against airframe weight and construction limits.