Double post to clarify information for those who may not understand the information from the ships.tbl:
NOTE: use the Wiki and look up "ships.tbl". Then, next time you decide to crack into the FS2/FSO ship VPs, you'll know what you're looking at.
The density values for both fighters are the same, so impacts do the same amount of damage to each. The Perseus has a forward damping factor 0.05 units less than the Aeshma's as well as a rotational damping factor also 0.05 units less than the Aeshma's, so it handles a bit more "snappily." But not by much...
Obviously the Perseus is fast, but the Aeshma can move laterally in x- or y-, up or down, at 17m/s. It can also move backwards at 20m/s... If the AI knew how to use this in close quaters, you'd be in for a much, much harder fight.
Despite the slightly higer acceleration damper, the Aeshma actually has a higher acceleration value. I'm not sure how this works in game as I havn't seen the actual coding to process the numbers from the table (but be pretty sure they're simple algorithms...). It also has acceleration values up or down comparable to the Perseus' forward acceleration, though the damper again compromises those figures. The deceleration value is the same, though the Perseus would in fact decelerate faster than the Aeshma due to the damper.
The moral of the story? In terms of conventional maneuvers, the Perseus would wail on the Aeshma, though it would still be a good fight. Add in a wicked AI or a human player (both of the same skill, of course.
Now where did we put Quantum Delta's evil twin?...) and the Aeshma's lateral/backwards flight characeristics and you've leveled the playing field by a significant margin. I'd like to see that one...