I prefer 1.04+.
I like being able to turn aproximately as well as the real deal.
1.03 gave the entire cake to the energy, boom & zoom, fighters. Any sloppy bellybutton flown energy fighter would easily defeat an A6M5b.
Now in 1.04+ the energy fighter has to be flown reasonably well. Energy fighters still have the upper hand if flown with a reasonable amount of skill, but a well flown turn fighter now has a chance.
I think some guys miss the nearly free kills of turn fighters in 1.03 and earlier versions. A lot of them seem to me to have been,under the skin, of this kind of mind:
"I fly the <insert e-fighter type> so I'm l33t. Look at how easily I destroy those cheating dweebs who fly Zekes, Nikis and Spits. They think they can make up for their lack of 5k11L by flying those easy dweeb mobiles."
In actuality the e-fighters had such a huge advantage in 1.03 that anybody who flew turn fighters, especially pure turn fighters like the A6M5b and Spitfire MkVb, was placing themselves at a disadvatage. Now in 1.04+ ifyou grab a Zero or Spit V you are still at a disadvantage, but have a fighting chance to survive,which is as it should be.
1.04+ still has known issues, such as the N1K2-J retaining too much energy and the Typhoon rolling too fast, but over all I think it is a much better flight model.
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We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother
Sisu
-Karnak
