/me has played Falcon 4.0 Allied Force

Yeah, that was the earlier artistic interpretation I refer to above, I like 'em both, but I like this one a little more because it takes the design a little further. And regarding the age of the design it makes sense that the design could be old enough to have been in the Clone Wars, they are looking pretty old and beat up by Episode IV, and if you look at current day fighter aircraft tech some of those fighters still in active service have been around for decades, just look to the F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Falcon, not to mention the Tornado and Harrier.

Well, as I've said before, it would stand to reason that the basic design has been around since about the time of the Clone Wars, but I highly doubt that it is the same Y-wing model from the OT as that would create continuity problems. It's suppose to predate the X-wing by several years, and 18 to 21 years before the BoY is much, much longer than that. There's also a few other problems it creates.

The brief article on it on starwars.com is worded in a way that makes it sound like it is a different, earlier version of the Y-wing than the A4 models we see in the OT. In addition, LFL also recognizes the illustration in the 'Incredible Cross Sections' books as official canon.

Aside from the Tomcat, which has already been retired, the rest of the craft (save for the Tornado) are being phased out right now for the Raptor and Lightning II. I think the Warthog & Super Hornet would've been a better (and probably more fitting) comparison.

Its the firepower, not speed. Y-Wing with good gunner is in my opinion better than A-wing or TIE Interceptor. Ofc B-Wing is the best, it has the biggest armor and firepower. No need for speed if you can kill in blink of an eye if you are in straight line.

"Speed is power"

Hmmm? It doesn't look anything like a Naboo Fighter, unless you count the fact it has a bit of yellow in it's colour scheme.

It's the rounded shape of the fuselage, compared to the 'original' ANH design .

And to nitpick further I think the Iranian Air Force still flys them.

As far as I understand, the Y-wing unveiled yesterday for the Clone Wars TV show is actually a precursor model to the A4 model Y-wing we all know and love from Episodes IV-VI (if it is, then they're creating some MAJOR problems with continuity lol). Which doesn't date back all the way to the Clone Wars (about 18-21 years). That's waaay too far. The basic design would make sense to have been around for about that long though.

LFL has already unveiled what a brand spanking new, "just-off-the-assembly-line" BTL-A4 Y-wing looks like (with all the coverings, panels, and proper paint schemes applied) in the Incredible Cross Sections books. Which looks freak'n sick, if I may say so.

Kickpie.  I'd fly that any day.

I'd be a little iffy flying that thing...it's probably as slow as a slug when it comes to speed .