Yes, Clod is the best in the genre atm but that's only because of the poor state of the genre. I mean, how many WW2 air combat games (no, the arcadey ones doesn't count) has been released the last few years? How can you be anything but the best if there is no competition? lol!
CloD is the best, worst and most mediocre all at the same time.
P.S Also, Clod is
relatively more realistic than these up and coming games but compared to real sims it is not. Still, CloD has the best balance when it comes to realism contra gameplay which makes it rewarding although the CEM is almost as simplistic as old IL-2.