A capable aircraft mismatched with British carriers

The Scimitar was a fast, flexible multirole fighter that pilots enjoyed flying. The problem began when it had to return to a British carrier. Its size and versatility suited a generation of larger or more thoroughly modernized ships that Britain never built or adapted for it. On the smaller decks actually available, a demanding aircraft became especially hazardous to land. Roughly half the production run was lost in accidents. Its service record shows how thoroughly a naval aircraft depends on the ships and operating procedures around it.