Saying it shouldent be perked and backing that opinion with drivel like "just learn to fight it and its and easy kill" and " fight the fight not the plane" are idiotic arguments.. and completely off base. yes.. a good pilot and a lower performing ride can defeat a shoddy pilot in a high performance bird..
hell ive shot down down 262s because they tried to turn with my jug.. I guess I learned how to fight them, and I fought the fight not the plane.. so 262s shouldent be perked either right? if you fly them like crap they are easy kills right?
IMO what should determine eligibility to perkishness is:
1: production, was it a very rare plane?
2: performance.
3: amount of use.
if you find 2 out of those 3 to be excessive, then it probably should be perked. and so far as I can tell, that seems to be about the case with what is currently perked. a few notibale exceptions being the wirble, (EXTREMELY excessive use (pretty much the only AA GV you see anymore) and its high lethality due to its unrealistic firing capabilities.
but that hot potato aside..
the 16 gets alot of use, and its performance numbers are pretty astonishing, 2 hizookas, top of the top in climb and acceleration, high top speed, excellent visibility... its only downs (IMO) are its not terribly tough, and has rather limited fuel.. but considering its high climb rate and top speed, the lack of fuel is kinda offset, seeing as how it can get up to fighting alt and to where its going very quickly.
I personally would like to see it perked, it just to much too well too easy.. I dont have much problem with them anymore, because I spent a good amount of time learning SPECIFICALLY how to fight them.. which IMO is another indicator.. I cant say there are many other rides I took devoted alot of time learning SPECIFICALLY how to fight.
Don't be baited into a turn fight if you aren't flying an aircraft that can
out turn you.
the 16, at reasonable MA alts (below 20K) can catch ALOT of other aircraft that it can also out turn and out gun, so if your run into it in a 51 and your not already up to speed (your just coming out of a fight or whatever) you have nothing, you are at a disadvantage in every way.. you have weaker guns, you cant accelerate as fast, turn as well, climb as well.. nothing.. you have a high top speed, but you will never get a chance to reach it unless the 16 driver REALLY screws up big time..
so yea, avoid it.. unless you have a big advantage, a skilled pilot in a 16 will mop the floor with you.