OK boys, let me clarify some points here as I see the same error repeated over and over on the forum.
In the 1930's, the plane came from aerodynamics limitation in their race for speed to refined monoplane configuration only limited by their engine's power.
A pilot trained in the 30's was used to deep it's nose to get some airspeed since the available power cld hardly coped with the high drag of the airplane (despite three time the power the bi-planes hardly gained 50% in speed btw 1920 and 1935).
Nowadays, a fighter pilot just slam the throttle and race toward his maximum airplane's Mach as the aerodynamics is much more refined than in the 40's. He will even raise the airplane nose to reach less denser air to increase it's speed !
During the war, most pilot use to dive slightly to get to the max speed available on their type. Just slamming the throttle forward could prove so lengthy that the engine cooling system would hve difficulties reaching it perfectly level (especially in the middle of a mission deep into enemy territory)
Pls view the max speed as the max sustainable speed at level flight (the point at your IAS indicator were the needle will fully stabilize itself after a slight dive). It's way more difficult otherwise. And feel yourself lucky we still not hve any gust model !
Yeah old Il2 FM was ridiculous for some of the planes on that point. Oh and I didn't mention the "refined" model of some of the Mod patch highly promoted here and there
