First off, join the Rooks and you'll get more perk points per kill than the other teams. The team with the fewest players gets the most points per kill. Now, on to the other stuff.
(a) Fly the Spitfire IX until you learn all of the game key commands.
(b) Avoid the P-38, P-51B, and all of the 109s until you learn how to use trim to get out of compression.
(c) Use tracers until you get the bullet ballistics figured out, then turn tracers off to see if you've learned gunnery.
(d) To get more perks per flight, trade in the Spitfire IX for a Spitfire V or Seafire II; trade in the P-51D for a P-51B; trade in the F6F for an FM2; trade in the F4U-1D for an F4U birdcage.
(e) the 109F is the most maneuverable of the 109s. Its also one of the slowest.
(f) The 190A8 with the four 20mm guns and pair of 12.5mm machine guns loves the HO and will win most of them, except against the P38, Mosquito, Me 110, and a Me109G10 (with gondolas).
(g) If you're in a ground vehicle, the enemy ground vehicles won't display an icon range.
(h) Don't forget to switch to "Attack" in the hangar if you're carrying bombs on a fighter plane.