The Swordfish pilots' hard-left turns fit both their control movements and the aircraft's behaviour. Left turns could feel more natural at the controls and receive some help from propeller torque, especially when a pilot reacted quickly to danger. Placing the island to starboard left that instinctive escape turn pointing away from the superstructure. Japanese experiments with port-side islands encountered problems with this arrangement. Propeller rotation could also permit a slightly tighter left turn, although the difference was small.
Notable Point · 48:48-50:30
Why carrier islands usually sit to starboard
The Swordfish pilots' hard-left turns lead into an explanation of why most carrier islands were placed to starboard, away from a pilot's instinctive emergency turn.