[kozzm0]

before you start relying on your rudder for that extra edge, keep in mind the benefit is minor. You'll probably be fine if you just rudder into turns, and use rudder to get your plane pointed in the right direction quicker in complex 3d turns.

Relying on ability to "outturn" the opponent is a last-resort tactic. If you're pursuing an enemy who has a faster or tighter-turning plane, you can stay in control of the situation by simply keeping the center of your turning circle behind theirs. No matter which direction they turn, they'll have to cross your guns to make you overshoot, unless they're masters of evasion, in which case they're likely to give you a chance to disengage and then re-engage to try again.

If you're being pursued by an enemy in a tighter- or faster-turning plane, chances are your plane can simply outrun them.

Whether you have a fast or slow low-radius turner, trying to shake an enemy off your 6 by picking a direction and turning invites disaster. The enemy's best chance to hit you is if you remain in their guns plane for a long strafing burst. If you just turn, they can set up their crosshairs at just before the right amount of lead, and then you have to fly through a long gauntlet of rounds. Even worse, if you're in a tight turn, they'll probably be shooting at the top of your plane which is a big target compared to the 6. But if you roll instead, the enemy can't set up in front of you cause you're refusing to fly into their crosshairs no matter where they point them. Rudder is an effective way to vary the rolls to make them harder for the enemy to predict. If the enemy flies close enough trying to aim for a snap shot, as they usually do, you can slow down and stalemate them in a Lufbery or rolling scissors.

If you find yourself in a concentric-circle chase with a fast turner, you already made serious tactical errors to end up there.

One other thing to keep in mind is turning fast and turning sharp are not the same thing. If your plane's corner speed is higher than the opponent's, don't get into a sharp turn contest. Use oblique turns and yo-yo's to maximize your turn rate by keeping your circle bigger - or disengage.