+1 on the OP.
I was thinking that it could be an option on the clipboard, perhaps were the "training" tab is? It would proceed to great you, welcome you to AH, then help get you started by asking you to click on the hanger option. Only when you click on the hanger would it continue to tell you about the P-51 as a starting aircraft, and then ask you to click on the runway. When you click on the runway it would show you all the controls (maybe at this step have a "next" button?) and gauges and so on.
I think that this should be given as a option the first time you load a map in a new installation of the game. Perhaps it could say:
"Are you new to Aces High? If so, it is strongly recommended that you watch our tutorial, which will teach you everything you need to know to get started in Aces High. If you're a returning player, just press 'No' to skip the tutorial. Please note that this can be accessed at any time from the tower via the clipboard."
If this, and a comprehensive tutorial were included, it would spell the end of most of the irritating questions being asked in the arenas. You'd also get far fewer people quitting the game before ever going online, just because they couldn't work out how to take off (I did just that the first time I found Aces High, and I
don't give up on things easily).
There is no reason for this not to be added to the game. Yes, the trainers have done a superb job in everything, but all that's in vain if the poor noob never even finds out that they exist

At the end of the day, there's just nothing like an in-built tutorial to get you on your feet.