Looking at Kill Stats for last tour

[BnZs]

Not surprisingly, the P-51D had the most kills with 13,903. What does surprise me a bit is the 190-D9(6672), La7 (6663), and P-47M (4287). Similar role planes, each one superior to the PonyD in several respects, yet far less usage.

Second in sheer number of kills was the SpitfireXVI, with 7050. The two other important spits in the MA, the VIII and the IX added 2241 and 2204 kills respectively, bringing the total for the 3 significant Spits up to 11,495. The XVI had the highest k/d, at 1.21, followed by the IX at 1.07. The VIII lagged at third with .98. I guess roll rate really is important.

[BnZs]

The other big winners in fighters with over 5000 kills each appear to have been the F4U1A, F6F, and N1K.

[SirNuke]

dora has no flaps, bad ballistics and views

P47M is nice, but no ordonance and kindof naked when the WAP runs out

La7 has no ord, and no legs.

[LCADolby]

P51 can carry good amount ords, making it the best thing for multi role base taker types.
Not to mention it's more user friendly than 190D and La7.
P47M is a high alt specialist, there's not much to kill up there.

[Zoney]

there's not much to kill up there.

True, but there are things "up there" that will kill you

                             

[LCADolby]

1 Zoney in per 500 square miles. 

[Copprhed]

1 Zoney in per 500 square miles. 

[GScholz]

It's the plane that won the war!

Peeps don't fly just the planes that are the best for the job. They fly what they like. Most players are Americans...

[BnZs]

It's the plane that won the war!

Peeps don't fly just the planes that are the best for the job. They fly what they like. Most players are Americans...

Correct, the market isn't entirely rational.

P47M is a high alt specialist, there's not much to kill up there.

It is as fast on the P-51D on the deck, out-turns it, out-climbs it, out-rolls it, has superior firepower, and withstands damage better.

The D9 does literally everything better than the P-51D at typical MA alts except turn.

The market is not entirely rational.

[BnZs]

nt

[TonyJoey]

Correct, the market isn't entirely rational.

It is as fast on the P-51D on the deck, out-turns it, out-climbs it, out-rolls it, has superior firepower, and withstands damage better.

The D9 does literally everything better than the P-51D at typical MA alts except turn.

The market is not entirely rational.

51 also has great visibility, very accurate guns, and high speed flaps that can be used to out-turn a Dora pretty badly. From my experience, Dora's don't stand much of a chance 1v1. A P-47M is a much harder opponent in my opinion.

[LCADolby]

You're forgetting the Ordinance factor. Most of AcesHigh's player base is involved in base taking missions. P51D is the best non perked fighter bomber around.
The P51 can not only take out ord bunkers hit VH or town etc, but also switch after doing that to field suppression and escort duty.
P47M can only fight and the 190D can only drop less than half the ords of the 51D, plus the P51 has fuel range advantage over the Dora.
The pros in the P51 outstrip the others in the MA environment.
The Market's intelligence shouldn't be mocked off hand.

[BnZs]

51 also has great visibility, very accurate guns, and high speed flaps that can be used to out-turn a Dora pretty badly. From my experience, Dora's don't stand much of a chance 1v1.

P-51s don't stand much chance 1v1 vrs  a Spit16 or La7, yet Ponies get twice the usage of either...

[BnZs]

The Market's intelligence shouldn't be mocked off hand.

I dunno, if the market is that obsessed with moving cartoon mud maybe we should go ahead and mock. 

[LCADolby]

But there aircraft choice is sound.