The P47M is a great plane, but I wouldn't put it in the "elite" category. It's very weak in the defense down low n slow. Very difficult for the P47 to accelerate quickly. It's not a good plane for base defense. It's a big plane, and can't easily escape if it gets lower than the fight. I'd much rather see P47Ms flying around than 190Ds, which typically get 2000 more kills a month than the P47M with the same K/D. The P51 is a better plane all around. The thing that makes American planes a little more challenging is the patience of getting alt and maintaining E, and the 50 cals that don't down planes very quickly. In 1v1s there are many better planes. All the 5 eny planes besides a Temp could beat it in a 1v1 pretty easily. Id say it really does take a person who knows what they are doing to fly a P47 well. Many get picked and ganged pretty quickly. So I wouldn't call it an elite plane by any means. Just a solid plane overall for the MA if you know what you are doing.