Are the Ai units the same as player models?

I think I've seen it stated that Ai planes don't get the internal components modeled for damage that human players do. If this is the case what is the reason not to model everything damage wise for the Ai. I understand they don't need clickable cockpits and such but do they get the rest.

I put more than 35 rounds on target in head-on passes against the P51 plus more coming up from behind to no satisfying ending. He ended landing 4 rounds which killed my engine in another head on pass. I love that I got shot down with 4 rounds but it never seems to happen the other way.

Hell no. Showered an AI P-51 with over 70(!) 20mm rounds, and he still wouldn't go down. He had 4 smoke trails, 2 from each wing, which didn't affect him at all. Eventually, I got a good 2 second burst into him in a zoom climb, from wing tip to wing tip.

It did nothing... He survived and shot me down as I passed him thinking I obliterated him...

however when they fight each others they react very slowly. strange.

So is there a reason not to model internal damage on Ai aircraft? Does it use to many of the systems resources or something? Can't imagine what we'll have to do to an Ai B17 when it gets here.

The damage model seems pretty inconsistent, sometimes it takes many rounds from the Dora to down a P 51D, when other times it only takes a round or two in the right spot. I'll try find the track

EDIT: Found it. Guess you gotta find the right spots to shoot to take it down easy

fw190_vs_p51_easy_kill.trk