Power-to-weight as a naval-aircraft yardstick

Power-to-weight ratio mattered across 1920s and 1930s aircraft design. The engine-power race of that period differed from later concerns such as computer-managed instability and aerodynamic control. The same metric applies to torpedo bombers, whose performance can improve sharply after they release a heavy weapon and begin their escape. Carrier aircraft still need enough structural strength for deck landings, while fuel, range, and payload increase gross weight. The Bearcat comparison provides a practical way to assess fighter agility, strike-aircraft survival, and carrier-design tradeoffs.