How is classifying planes by YEAR fair? Western Europe had a 2 year headstart in WW2 to design planes (when war starts all development budgest massively increase). Therefore, Western European planes of a given year had 2 more years of wartime development over US or Japanese planes. Which leaves little doubt as to why some 1944 British or German planes may be more refined than their 1944 American/Japanese counterparts.
In 1943, in the Pacific, the Japanese Ki-61 was the best they had. Who would want to fly that against 1943 Euro planes like the FW-190A-5 or Spitfire Mk 9e? Nobody would call them "equals" just because they are of the same year. What about 1942? Are the P-40E and Ki-43 as good as a 109G2 and Spit IX? Not many sane people would say so. Same goes for 1944.
To say nothing of developmental problems, political decisions, proximity to combat, etc.
Also, as mentioned, many planes were designed for massively different roles. however, the ARENA typically ignores these roles--all planes do all roles, fly for all countries, and are always available in unlimited numbers.
Not all planes were created equal. However, for a game to be fun, things HAVE to be fairly equal.
The solution?
I tend to favor adding planes based on how well they match up with other planes in the game, regardless of the year. That way the bottom line (the game itself) is fair.
J_A_B
