The Flycatcher remained the Fleet Air Arm's standard fighter until the Hawker Nimrod entered service. On Courageous and Glorious, several compact Flycatchers could wait near the forward lift and launch without disrupting the main flight deck. As replacement aircraft became too large for that arrangement, carriers lost a protected, immediately available fighter group while still lacking radar warning. That combination of short warning time and distant operations strengthened the case for armoured flight decks and hangars that could keep a carrier usable after damage.
Notable Point · 48:23-50:52
From compact alert fighters to armored carrier design
The Flycatcher's compact size let carriers keep fighters ready on forward flying-off decks, a capability later aircraft growth removed before radar solved warning time.