If you find yourself completely compromised, i.e. at a major disadvantage in E, pursued by multiple attackers or up against an uber fighter, you might have fun in a zero. Sure, it can't take hits. What it can do is evade really well while maintaining the ability to achieve superior angles and turn to the offensive. If the pilot maintains SA, and has reasonable familiarity with the aircraft, you will find him hard to shoot down. If he can get the fight co-E, then you'll really struggle unless you're much better. In WWII, zeros were lost in droves only when the quality of the Japanese aircrew had been significantly degraded when compared to US pilots. I do not fear fighting anything in the zero one on one - even when I'm at a significant E disadvantage. If I'm in most other fighters in a 1-1, I feel that the relative E state and relative aircraft performance are much more likely to dictate the outcome. When you practice what I call the boom and turn, then the zero is at its best. This is when you have E (usually much more altitude) than an opponent. You dive on him and raise your airspeed to the point that his nominal advantage in straight line speed is nullified. If he tries to run, you will overtake him. If he tries to turn then he finds himself turn-fighting a zero. The key is superior SA. You must have it to survive in a zero. I get killed often, but mostly on slash attacks by unseen cons in 1 vs. multiple opponent situations. I know you'll laugh, but I think that if I play my game, I have the strongest chance of survival in an A6M5. You'll find it hard to hit me in your P47 one on one and I'm certainly no great pilot. Granted, your P47 or F6 can soak up damage. It's much easier to hit you, though...
