Im would go for the IX as well. It turns the best of the 3, and has more performance than the XVI when you need it
The LA-7 is faster, but, speed is not the point of TnB is it
Even though the IX turns slightly better than the XVI. I take the XVI most of the time. I like the bit stronger armament, and the rollrate comes in handy when rolling to stay behind a slow plane like the hurri and I-series. Also like ancient seraph said, the spits are quickly unflyable when hit in the wings. My experience in the XVI is, that it is just a bit more sturdy than the IX. It will not have the wingdrops like the IX has after 1 machine gun bullet.
The IX will take 5 whole 360 degree turns before he will outturn you in a XVI, so the lesser turn rate, is really not that much less
