Game AI
But it isn't just the flight model that is flawed. All the AI planes, whether in your own flight or opposing you, are capable of performing moves that just aren't possible. A P47 is a huge plane, weighing in at 9 tons. It can take massive amounts of damage but can't turn with any Japanese plane. The tactic for these guys is to get high, swoop down, make the shot and climb away. However, climb in a Zero, go up against a P47 and spend 10 minutes in a turning dogfight, watching the AI handbrake turn in midair without stalling or spinning.
Ground attack doesn't fair much better, with an old gripe, which has been levelled at the series for a long time and still hasn't been corrected. The gunners, whether on the ground, defending ships or in the back of enemy planes all have a supernatural sniper-like ability to kill you in just a few shots. Get too close to them and you'll soon regret it, in fact you'll very rapidly regret it. Three rounds of tracer fly out the back of a bomber, one round killing your engine, the next round taking out your aileron controls and the last round killing your pilot…. This is particularly annoying when you've flown for 40 minutes to get to that point…. And yes, it happens in the career and single missions too.
