https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/10-world-war-2-warplanes-that-were-an-unlikely-success/ss-AA1zJ0ol?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ASTS&cvid=006884fa2b624499c283668770b83043&ei=12#image=21

Do you agree with this assessment?

It's slightly easier to follow if you start from the other end here.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/10-world-war-2-warplanes-that-were-an-unlikely-success/ss-AA1zJ0ol?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ASTS&cvid=006884fa2b624499c283668770b83043&ei=12#image=1

But generally I agree with them, there are some gems in the list, the Lysander and Swordfish being among them. The Swordfish even replaced its successor, the Albacore, in some squadrons!

I don't quite see why the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor would be considered an unlikely success - except for having brakes that were not all that great.

(I believe Eric Brown said that Fieseler Storch was the only German aircraft with good brakes, but it didn't need them    )

Quote from: perttime on February 25, 2025, 10:03:39 AMI don't quite see why the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor would be considered an unlikely success - except for having brakes that were not all that great.

(I believe Eric Brown said that Fieseler Storch was the only German aircraft with good brakes, but it didn't need them    )

The Condor also liked to break in half upon landing.

There was also the Brewster Buffalo used by Finland against the Soviets.

Quote from: Joe C-P on February 26, 2025, 03:11:59 PM...
There was also the Brewster Buffalo used by Finland against the Soviets.

Ah.... the "Gentleman's travelling airplane" 
There was an incident where it was found that carrying a couple of friends, a large suitcase, and a large dog in the Brewster fuselage was not a great idea.
(The passengers were discovered after a landing mishap, and there was a Court Martial)

One might put the legendary Avro Lancaster in that category. I'm sure that after the Manchester experience a lot of people initially rolled their eyes at the Lancaster idea and thought 'not bloody likely!'   

The success of the Swordfish wasn't unlikely.  It's longevity was.

The Swordfish is a heavily under-rated aircraft.  It managed to sink more enemy tonnage than any other Allied torpedo bomber during the war.  It managed to replace it's own successor and it was in use from 1939 to 1945.  Whenever I bring it up on Alternative History it usually floors the opposition.  There simple wasn't anything as good as the Swordfish - a string bag with only two things solid enough it to be hit by AA fire.