ORIGINAL: Montague
Well, the Ripper really doesn't turn as well as many of the current designs.
But Matt hit the nail on the head. What you'll be flying against really matters. If everyone has HORs or Rippers, then they are both fine designs. If someone has an Avenger or a Phencepost or any number of the various things people throw together, you'll find yourself out-classed.
I feel like a light bulb just went on in the back of my head.
Now I know why I did as well as I did in my first year of combat. All the other combatants said
I really flew well, but I felt most of the time I was just trying to stay in the air and would say
that I really didn't feel they were going after my avenger, they were flying an assortment
(a couple of germlins, a couple of slashers, a couple of home built and some SPADs).
A very experienced pilot with an avenger would have had a field day, me as a rookie,
I was able to hold my own.