"spitty 8 can even keep up with ki-84/38 in vertical and turns by extending its brake flaps."
Theres not a spit in this game that can keep up with a 38 in the vertical if the pilot of the 38 knows how to fly his plane... Murdr and I had this discussion before and he actually tested this and made a film I believe in our 479th film library where he smokes 2 spits an 8 and a 16 if I remember correctly using the verticle to his advantage... Turn wise the spit 5, and 8 will out turn a 38, the 16 usually looses as it gets slower the 16 sucks... But thats how I get the majority of my spit kills in a 38, I just take em in the vert, and there generally ded by the 2nd loop