Aces, almost entirely agreed with one caveat; you refer to 'combat reports (pilot accounts)'.
The majority of the information posted in this thread - with the exception of the A&AEE reports - is not combat comparison data. What I mean is that the reports by Charlie Brown, Mark Hannah & Dave Southwood are in essence 'pilots notes' on characteristics they each observe in how the aircraft behaves in specific and documented flight regimes, often with well detailed observations on manifold pressures/rpms & relevant IAS and climb rates.
Whilst each pilots observations are somewhat subjective based upon types & hours flown previously and I would not take one sole example and attempt to extrapolate a flight model there from, the use of all of these reports together, especially where they document common charateristics, I would say is absolutely necessary if trying to finesse or validate an existing flight model in order to give the immersion or flavour of the aircraft in question.
I agree the use of actual period combat reports is a very sketchy basis for flight model data, especially in direct comparison with an opponents apparent capabilites - or lack thereof.
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