Operational geography shapes British naval fighters

The Panther and later Flycatcher illustrate the demand for highly maneuverable naval fighters. The period term 'inflective' is used here for an aircraft that responds readily to a pilot's desired maneuver and can be thrown around the sky. British and Japanese designers shared an interest in agility but worked from different assumptions about distance from factories and replacement pools. A navy expecting to fight near home could accept a lighter, harder-to-repair machine because replacements were closer. The British requirement for global deployment favored a stronger, more repairable airframe.