P-36 Hawk: useful in its generation, overtaken in service

Was the Curtiss P-36 Hawk already out of date?

It was a good aircraft for its generation, but rapid development left it less useful by the fighting of 1940-42.

The P-36 first flew in 1935 and entered service in 1938, placing its design in a rapidly changing generation of fighters. Its flying qualities receive a favorable assessment, including comparison with the Spitfire and the experience of Finnish users. The problem was the pace of change by the time it was fighting in 1940-42. Later aircraft had moved beyond what had been a capable design when first built. That distinguishes being overtaken in service from having been a poor aircraft from the outset.