A more capable German carrier is imagined as an incentive for Britain to pursue a purpose-designed naval Spitfire earlier. A gull-wing drawing is discussed as a possible basis for that aircraft, with its connection to Supermarine's naval proposal explicitly disputed. The argument in its favour is that the design could retain some Spitfire performance while tolerating deck landings. Supermarine's experience of landing stresses supports that interpretation, but does not settle the disputed identity of the design.
Notable Point · 5:02:01-5:03:03
A disputed gull-wing design for a naval Spitfire
A German carrier counterfactual leads to a tentative interpretation of a gull-wing naval Spitfire design and its deck-landing requirements.