"Granted, you can't go full flap anymore and out turn Zero's but hey...you shouldn't be able too right?"
I don't think think the 38 was ever able to outturn a zero ( in a flat turn anyway ) , theres quite a few planes that would outturn the 38 ( pilots being equal ) in a flat turn going round and round in circles, the 38 may be able to stay with the other plane for the 1st 1/2 of the turn, maybe even beating them by using flaps, but it wont hold a sustained flat turn with it. Of coarse add the vertical to the fight and the 38 wins... It still whoops other planes in the vert easily, even the new hover mode corsairs. Flat turn and roll rate the corsair will win, but if the 38 goes vertical the corsair will stall out a good 3 seconds before the 38 does. Was in the TA about 2-3 weeks ago and tested this with the assistance of Ghost. Anyone flying the 38 in circles in a flat turn is not using its best advantage IMHO which is the vertical.. The last notch of flaps bug would be a very welcome fix, but in no way is this plane obsolete. It just won't chase it's own tail like it used to in a flaturn...