The CFS-2 Flight Deck

In my opinion, the A6M2 is the best dog-fighter in CFS2. As with any fighter this is of course incumbent upon the pilot flying it to capitalize upon strengths & minimize exposure of its weaknesses... With the A6M2 In CFS-2 this is amplified!!!

Remember that the A6M2 is very fragile. This means you must Minimize the enemy's opportunities to hit you if you expect to survive.

*AVOID going head-on with the 'big gun' American Aircraft and the George unless you are suicidal or you are sure your opponent is a very poor shot. As the enemy approaches head-on, weave about like a fool ...give no easy target; that way if your opponent does manage to hit you, it usually won't be with sufficient impacts to finish you off. Evasive maneuvering in the zero will take some practice, but once you master it, your enemy will have fits of frustration while trying to get his sights on you!
*Joystick response is extremely important. It is essential with this aircraft that you remove null zones from your joystick in game controller settings. If you do not have independent rudder control in the form of a 'twist access' joystick or rudder pedals you are severely handicapped.
*Never fly the A6M2 in a straight line. Always use your rudder to slip sideways; otherwise weave around. Flying straight & level even for a few seconds could be fatal.
*You must set up trim tabs. All accomplished aces know how to use them. Most true aces are darn tough to put down once they are hit. As you accumulate damage you must adjust trim. Also use flaps to assist in keeping the plane in the air.
*Make sure your computer gives you high frame rates. Frame rates of 90 fps or higher make keeping your zero alive much easier.
*Many opponent pilots are shaken up by the A6M2 pilot who doesn't crash after being shot up in the first pass. Most of the guys fly the very tough Hellcat/Corsair and George which as you know can absorb a lot of damage & still fly away even when piloted by a newbie. Not so in an A6M2... It takes great skill to keep a damaged one in the air!
*Appreciate that the A6M2 is a very slow aircraft. Do not under any circumstances try to outrun ANY other aircraft unless that aircraft is crippled. Twist and turn as tightly as possible to evade a pursuer.
*Beware the fact that the A6M2 has poor armament. Believe it or not the A6M2 does not have the same guns as the A6M5. Most pilots do not recognize this fact. The 20mm cannon in the A6M2 is lower in performance & has a very high trajectory compared to equivalent weapons. There is also not much in the way of ammunition. You must hold your fire with cannons until you are certainly 500 yards or less. Your cannon ammo is too valuable to squander on longer shots. When taking longer shots use your plentiful 7.7 mm machine guns. They are weaker but it can put the finishing touch on another aircraft & often steal a kill from an opponent.
*Maneuver for a close shot. You have not got the virtually unlimited potent ammo of a Hellcat or Corsair. Once your cannon ammo is depleted, the effectiveness of your A6M2 is greatly diminished.
*Set your joystick up so that when you fire your main guns, you fire both 7.7 mg and 20mm cannons at the same time. The extra punch will make a difference. You have so much 7.7 mg ammo that you can spare it. Keep your 7.7 mg on a separate button so that you can use it for long shots and finishing kills.
*A6M2 is a great team aircraft. It is best used for crippling another aircraft and then letting your teammates with the Hellcats, Corsairs or Georges finish them off. Nothing can out fly the A6M2 & you should be able to pour fire into any other aircraft. Your lack of firepower will often prevent your affecting a kill, but your teammates will usually appreciate your start and complete the job. Team scores are always better when there is an A6M2 in the room!
*Practice with the A6M2 ...forsake all others. Don't expect satisfactory results until you have flown more than 100 combat hours in it. If you want to fly the A6M2 then you must keep away from the other aircraft. It will screw up your rhythms if you switch around. It handles like no other plane in CFS2. Flown by equal pilots, nothing can compete with it in a dogfight.

Reference:
MicroSoft CFS-2 Pilots Manual
Article for Airwarfare by MOH_FOX