From the detailed mission briefing notes:
1917 - ALLENBY'S BOYS
FLYING THE SE5a:This model has a built in joystick brake. As you build revs after startup hold the stick fully back and the aircraft will hold station as engine revs increase. When you are ready to roll ease off on the revs and gradually release back pressure.
Accelerate gently and the SE5a will accelerate smartly and takeoff in a short distance. If you ignore this procedure, you are more likely to groundloop the aircraft. Built around the 150 hp (112 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8a V8, the SE5a enjoys a smooth throttle response with less precessional torque than the radial engined Camel.
The B.A.T. Dawn of Flight SE5a lifts off and flys just beautifully.
The AI are just as good, providing their path is not blocked, and I have them taking off as well. When writing campaigns with taxi routines some aircraft are definately better than others. The scenery itself is often a factor too. There are many work arounds, such as restricting the live taxi aircraft numbers, setting others up closer to the takeoff point and introducing other flights already airborne and arriving overhead in a low pass as you start up. In an imperfect world all of these FMB tricks add to the atmosphere of a busy airfield.