Yes the Sterling was hampered by the reduced wingspan, I've always liked the look of it and am not surprised it handled well, would have been very interesting to see what would have been the result if she was given a new wing and four Merlins? Utterly huge bomb bay, so maybe a missed oppertunity? The Lancaster had an un interupted bomb bay, one of it's strong points, but the Sterling was so long, if it was modified it could have carried a huge load I think.