User blog comment:WolfgangBSC/The Random Chat Room/@comment-24787182-20151017182531/@comment-27797576-20151018221138

The Zero certainly can't outrun the Tomcat, though the Zero could easily outmaneavear it. You know why? The Tomcat was designed for intercepting incoming aircraft and missiles(most notably anti-ship missiles), and therefore sacrified maneavearibility for sheer speed. If the tomcat stupidly decided to turn fight a Zero, it could possibly die very quickly. Then again, the jet wash of the Tomcat(not to mention all jet aircraft) would set the Zero on fire because the jetwash would set the engine ablaze. And lets not forget the Tomcat is much sturder than the Zero. It can survive a few 12.7mm fire, but as always, either one could very easily explode the other by aiming at the fuel tanks. Tomcat would win overall, but the Zero will win in a few cases.