You didn't mention a throttle, but before I had mine I used my Z axis as my CH throttle.
Every time I start Aces High, before I take off for the first time, I set my Z axis on the joystick (that I use for RPMs) and the throttle, to minimum. As the engine starts when I hit the runway, I move them both to maximum. I only have to do that once. For some reason they don't always work right, unless and until I move them through their full range of motion. I don't actually run a calibration, just move them the full range. Then they work fine. It might work for you.