I come to this discussion late and admit ignorance to the content of the entire thread, but there are a couple of things that I wish to add in my good friend Des' defence. There is a good possibility that lag or differences in connection may play into what occurs on the front end of his computer compared to what one of us might be accustomed to.
Des, I believe, maybe one of us that is on the unfortunate end of the spectrum when it comes to lag. Des, I forget where you are located or if this is an accurate assumption. But from someone who has had horrible connection and lag, I can tell you that it is not all that simple because, your eyes tell you what is true to connect with your target (gun solution or actually landing) while your actual target might be moving in a position that is not true to your eyes.
What I am saying (from experience) and from film evidence of other players, I have made my evasive turn or climb in the window to avoid the other players gun solution according to all of my visual cues, but in fact on his end I continued on the additional split second or so and thus did end in his path. One of the tell tale clues that I have experienced lag, either comes from an unexpected collision, or the all too familiar sound of rounds raking over my aircraft a good second or so after the merge.
Yes, the only way that I can receive damage from an aircraft past me and facing away with out rear guns HAS TO BE LAG. Please discuss the above and consider that into your advice for my good buddy, and an extremely fun fellow to fly with Des.