While it is commendable to aspire to be among the best, you'll have to fly a far more diverse range of airplanes. P-51, Dora and P-47M is very narrow skill set. The best in this game over the 13 years I've been flying and training others, could win in anything. Moreover, being among the best means winning when the odds are stacked against you. This is where dueling, especially dissimilar type dueling, helps to expand skills, knowledge base and builds the necessary experience base. I suggest flying what Alex flew... F6F. Flying the Hellcat means that you won't be able to extend away from the faster fighters. They will chase you down. So, before it becomes a race, you turn into them and show them why the F6F is much better than most would think... Add some variety, it'll make you a better virtual pilot. The path to the top tier usually goes through most of the plane set....
I respectfully disagree. While I have dabbled in most of the plane set to familiarize myself with their capabilities, hopping around from plane to plane to plane doesn't suit me. I can fly Spits and LAs, pwning all day long. I don't see the challenge in it.
The Pony is, despite what people think, limited in what it can do, and I like that. It makes you work for what you get and you have to fly it smart. That discipline will carry over to other planes down the road.
Eventually I will get bored with it and move on to the next plane to master. But I am still learning this one.
Everyone learns differently. Your method is effective for you but not me. Also, I am a believer in flying the plane that fits your style. Some people like Spits or 109s. Others like Jugs or Doras. I am a Pony guy for now. It simply works for me at the moment.
Thanks for the kind advice, however. It is certainly worthy of consideration.