The way I see it is when you learn the way the game works and start doing things that are actually beneficial to the country your flying for you stop being a noob.
well that sux I have been here since around tour 52, still a noob, don't care about how the "chess pieces" are doing in the "war". I've just been flying for the fight.
you stop being a noob when you can take any plane up(if that is your choice of vehicle) and no matter what you encounter, know what you need do to kill it, in other words, knowing all of the planes "stats" what they excel at and what there weaknesses are.
took me about 4 months to declare my self a non-noob.
being able to utilize that knowledge and coming out on top, when you start from a disadvantage, whether it be Alt, numbers, or plane type, this is when you become "UBER" or "elite" or "A PRO" or whatever word you use.