easymo, that's exactly what I've done, I agree, best to know your enemy to beat him. I'm pretty good against N1K's since I understand them better now and fly a specific way against them in order to win. Still, if I get caught Co-E with one, it's going to be a tough battle if the N1K pilot is any good since there are very few tricks to use since the N1K is better in almost every performance category.
The N1K runs outta power up high, though it still appears to turn, climb and accelerate well. The top speed doesn't increase nearly as much though. I ran some tests (really rough results) at one point to test a problem I was having with N1K's. My old tactic was to dive away and try to escape on the deck in a SpitIX yet they would easily catch me even though they started Co-E. The results were surprising, at 0K the N1K held a 20mph advantage, at 10K it was a dead heat, at 15K the Spit held at 25 mph advantage. So, diving away isn't the greatest idea for a Spit unless you are already packing extra E, but in that case you can probably escape level. I like the way Zigrat put it to me one time when we saw a N1K at 22K. "Wow, here's an easy kill, what the hell is he doing way up here."
Lepht, I think you are correct on the power idea, the N1K can hang there really well, better than a Spit. The N1K is the worst nightmare for a Spit driver. The N1K is fearsome slow and low, all those cannons make for death if they land. It can also pull those totally bizarre vertical maneuvers with little or no speed and seem to pick up E, where the Spit can try the same thing and lose E. I hate N1K's more than C-Hogs since they tend to be more dangerous to me, but part of that has to do with my choice of ride. Most things can run from a N1K fairly easily.
Don't turn with a N1K unless you are in a Zero.... it's easy to fall into the trap in a Spit.
-Soda
