25.06.2010, 21:59
If a low wing loading was all that was required to increase an aircraft's manoeuvrability why not just make the wing bigger? There is clearly more to it than that. For a start, there is the question of power-to-weight ratio, where an Avenger is going to lose out markedly to a fighter. You also have to decide at what altitude you want the plane to operate, it's desired range, and many other things. Aircraft design is a question of making compromises, and in the case of the Avenger, things like having to carry a bomb/torpedo load, defensive armament, and a crew of three (I think?) will inevitably have restricted some aspects of its performance. The idea that you could magically produce a bomber that could match turning performance with a fighter belongs in cloud-cuckoo land.