I have the exact same stick, and the next thing on my shopping list is a TrackIR. For me, my stick is adequate. whereas my situational awareness is inadequate.
Another similar thing that I think happens at least on my client log is that the name of a player currently using an aircraft seems to get subsituted for all events involving that aircraft, even before they started using it. I don't know if this affects the servers log though.
Pilotasso, I disagree with your option one. If he's still not destroyed enough to stop him shooting then shooting seems like a good idea. I think that's what good damage modelling is for. I agree with you though that 1.02's damage model seemed a little lenient. I suppose this brings us back to your option 3 - use more missiles and make sure it's dead.
I think part of the problem here is that fighter pilots don't think enough of their mission while flying escort. Missile conservation can get scant consideration when you're tangling with a fulcrum or something.
There is one at: http://www.simhq.com/_downloads/downloads_air.html
I did one which you can find by searching here. It isn't as good but it does have a UK keyboard layout if that's what you prefer.
Actually, I find the AI to be as good as a lot of humans gunzo. Depends what you're flying against of course.
Most gun fights don't last much more than a minute, if they do then you'll probably run out of fuel on burner.
I was just reading this on the BBC news website:
"I know they have their own ROVs. I also know they did try and they suffered some fairly major failures in these ROVs. That is for them to investigate,"
Cdr Riches RN @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4130754.stm