 The third prototype made its maiden flight in early 1948 , but the pace of the flight testing was leisurely with only 7 hours and 40 minutes completed by 30 November , over half of which were connected with air show performances . Testing concluded in March 1949 when the officer in charge concluded that there was no further purpose to the tests . While the Firecrest was faster than the Firebrand , and gave its pilot a much better view from the cockpit , it was otherwise disappointing , with test pilot and naval aviator Captain Eric Brown claiming that the Firecrest was even less manoeuvrable than the sluggish Firebrand , while the powered ailerons gave lumpy controls , leading to instability in turbulent air . 
 The third prototype made its maiden flight in early 1948 , but the pace of the flight testing was leisurely with only 7 hours and 40 minutes completed by 30 November , over half of which <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> connected with air show performances . Testing concluded in March 1949 when the officer in charge concluded that <a href='dey_it' title='2'><mark>there</mark></a> was no further purpose to the tests . While the Firecrest was faster than the Firebrand , and gave its pilot a much better view from the cockpit , it was otherwise disappointing , with test pilot and naval aviator Captain Eric Brown claiming that the Firecrest was even less manoeuvrable than the sluggish Firebrand , while the powered ailerons gave lumpy controls , leading to instability in turbulent air . 
Da third prototype made its maiden flight in early 1948 , but tdapace of thdalight testing was leisurely wit only 7 hours and 40 minutes completed by 30 November , ova half of which was connected with air show performances . Testing concluded in March 1949 when the officer in charge concluded that it was no further purpose to thedasts . While the daecrest was faster than the Firebrand , and gave its pilot a much betta view from the cockpit , it was otherwise disappointing , with test pilot and naval aviator Captain Eric Brown claiming that the Firecrest was even less manoeuvrable than the sluggish Firebrand , while the pdared ailerons gave lumpy controls , leading to instability in turbulent air .