@Ice_ With the US jet I just press Z and go into a hover and I can switch to guns after shooting the first air missile. 3 seconds and boom attack helicopter is dead. That's even if I don't make contact with the missile due to their flares.
Russian jet without the hover ability is just trash.
USA jet - vehicles destroyed = 84
Russia jet - vehicles destroyed = 0
Since the Russian jet has such a disadvantage I don't use it anymore. I can get a few infantry kills here and there but can't destroy any vehicles. Without the hover ability you just weaken it as you make your pass. By the time you turn around the US jet and now heli are targeting you. Boom later russian pos jet.