@Oberon:
Raptor1 performed some scientifically experiments in the names of glorius science after reading that the latest beta version of DCG fixes something called the ''ace'' bug...it seems no matter if they're set on average or rookie in DCG they'll be set to veteran and aces in game.
DCG
perhaps upgrade to windows 8..I mean the beta version and see if it the I-16's stop behaving like uberkill bolshevik cyborg space comandos?