Best of the Best

[Major Biggles]

p51 for air superiority, it just rocks at it.

[bsdaddict]

I suppose, in today's AH, it depends on what arena one is in...

[1895]

1.  Air Superiority - Spitfire
2.  Ground Attack (GV's) - P38J
3.  Ground Attack (Hard Targets) - F4U1C/Tempest
4.  Bombing missions - B-17
5.  Long Range Bomber Escort - P51B/D
6.  Base Defence - Spitfire
7.  NOOB plane - Lgay

[Dace]

All factors combined...... The F4U4 and P51-D are the "best" IMO.  

Awesome screenie Wolfala.

[Lazerr]

38L is far better for ground attack, as compared to the L model.

[Wolfala]

Pure ground attack for tank plinking: A-20G
Ground Attack for VH busting: P-38L, A-20G

[1895]

Nice highlights and shadows, good drop

[Mace2004]

Originally posted by Krypto
1.  Air Superiority - Spitfire
2.  Ground Attack (GV's) - P38J
3.  Ground Attack (Hard Targets) - F4U1C/Tempest
4.  Bombing missions - B-17
5.  Long Range Bomber Escort - P51B/D
6.  Base Defence - Spitfire
7.  NOOB plane - Lgay

Now, except for the last, those would be good catagories for RL; however, the missions are different in AH.  I'd suggest something like this:

1.  Base porking - 190
2.  Vulching - Niki
3.  Ground attack (GV's) - Lancstuka
4.  Ground attack (Hard Targets) - Lancstuka
5.  Any other bombing - Lancstuka
6.  Picking - BF-109, FW-190, P-51, Typhoon
7.  Endless looping - P-38
8.  HOing - 110, 190, 109, LA-7
8.  Runningdownoutofammoguys - LA-7
9.  Turnfightsandcantrun - Zeke, Hurricane
10.  Base Defense - Any bomber that has the formation option to sponge up all of the vulchers bullets so real planes can up.




Mace

[Sloehand]

Nobody is really gonna agree completely with anyone else on the "best" ride.  If you could only pick one all-around fighter/attack aircraft that could do well on most all types of missions, someone said they would pick the F4U, and it would be a good choice, as would be the P-38.  
Mine would be the Niki for all the reasons below, and because out of all the best candidates, it's the one I fly in the pure fighter role the best:

1. very good TnB fighter and holds E fairly well, but can be effective in BnZ
2. has 4x 20mm cannons with 2nd best ballistics and largest magazine
3. is a stable gun platform for tracking shots
4. has responsive nose control for snapshots
5. has great fuel/range and loiter endurance with & without its drop tank
6. can carry two 550 Lb. bombs for structure/GV killing
7. good pilot visibility
8. doesn't compress as easily in a dive as many aircraft
9. generally handles/manuvers well at all altitudes up to just under 20K
10.  glides well deadstick
11. good for multiple base porking in one sortie

My preference for each mission type:
1. Air Superiority - Spit XVI
2. Ground Attack (GV's) - bf110
3. Ground Attack (Hard Targets) - bf110
4. Bombing missions - B-24
5. Long Range Bomber Escort - Ta152
6. Base Defence - HurriC/Spit II
7. NOOB plane - Spit II

[1895]

Originally posted by Mace2004
Now, except for the last, those would be good catagories for RL; however, the missions are different in AH.  I'd suggest something like this:

1.  Base porking - 190
2.  Vulching - Niki
3.  Ground attack (GV's) - Lancstuka
4.  Ground attack (Hard Targets) - Lancstuka
5.  Any other bombing - Lancstuka
6.  Picking - BF-109, FW-190, P-51, Typhoon
7.  Endless looping - P-38
8.  HOing - 110, 190, 109, LA-7
8.  Runningdownoutofammoguys - LA-7
9.  Turnfightsandcantrun - Zeke, Hurricane
10.  Base Defense - Any bomber that has the formation option to sponge up all of the vulchers bullets so real planes can up.




Mace

Shhh mace I base ALL my facts on RL

[Squire]

You forgot:

11. Onevulchandrun: P-51D, Dora, Typhoon, LA-7.