Frenchy's post made me think a bit (that in and of itself represents a momentous occasion heheh).
This isn't the first time I've heard of someone accidentally selecting a perkplane. Perhaps it might help if when you selected a perkplane there was a popup window to verify that this is the selection you actually want? Accidentally taking off in the wrong plane is one thing; accidentally taking off in the wrong plane and losing 50 hard-earned perkpoints is an entirely different matter.
I'd only recommend such a popup window for perked aircraft, as otherwise it'd soon be ignored.
J_A_B