Whiskey that is one of the planes that I thought was rated with too high of a number.The A5 is better than a 35 in my opinion. But then again the FM2 is better than a 40 I think. The HurriIIc is rated 35 as well, and I think it could slide in at a 28. The 110c is at 55, and seems with its speed it should be a tad lower as well.
The 109s seem good...they are a bear to see out of, as well as shoot until you get the hang of it.
I think alot of it depends on how each player fights when they meet. If you have a guy who always stays fast, never engages unless he has alt and speed over the opponent, and flies a low numbered plane like a La7, Nik, or typh, then he will do well. If you have a guy in a higher numbered plane like a FM2 and he can avoid being hit, and take advantage of opportunities, he will do well.
The main factor is how does the guy in the lower ENY (LA7) plane behave when he meets a high ENY plane(FM2). I tend to fly the same way in every plane I fly. When Im in an LA7, and meet an FM2, I very quickly give up my advantage of speed, and settle into a fight that the FM2 excells in. Sometimes I get lucky, most times I lose. Its those times that having a low eny plane doesnt matter. If flown correctly, the lower eny plane should win the fight.
Since most of the ENY list is based on speed and firepower(seems to me anyways) the guy in the better ride should win. If he doesnt, he slid into the realm of the enemy..giving away his advantage somewhere.
Its not so much the guy in the higher eny plane outflew him, its either the guy was caught low and slow, or was over confident and gave the fight away too early, expending E/alt advantage too early and getting caught.
Once A better turning plane goes nose up and gives chase to a better climber, he is giving away his ability to avoid being hit, just as when a faster plane starts turning with a plane that can out turn him, gives his fight away.
Thats when ENY goes out the window, and it becomes a pilots choices that affect the outcome.