The one thing you have to accept about all online games is the level of proficiency some people will have.
Do you notice when you go to play online there are the same 6 or 8 names there? ALL the time.
How many hours a week can you put in? 5? 10? 30?
Some of them are putting in 30 hrs a week and more. Kids off school? Double that.
The stability of your internet speed has some function too. Faster speed today and you lead the target less. Learn to shoot offline and you relearn when online. I'm not nearly good enough to get right in the cockpit with the other guy before shooting but that is the best way to deal with the lag.
In my opinion the biggest assets that the Dogs have aren't being used. Teamwork and patience.
Mature folks have patience and judgment that only comes from experience.
The Dogs don't spend any time developing the teamwork skills that would give them a huge advantage over any single opponent.
That isn't intended as an insult in any way, just saying that my own gunnery and general performance is directly related to the time I spend on an opponents tail.
We have the potential to even that up simply by starting with some very simple guidelines.
1. Fly with a buddy, line abreast, about 1 km apart.
2. If one is engaged or shooting the other does nothing but watch and report.
That's all, simple. It becomes second nature.
We do that for 6 months and we'll end up going home for fuel or ammo most of the time.