addition to Ghosth's answers:
1. Is it possible to slow things down slower than real time??
Like Ghosth said. To get back in real time press "play" button.
2.Why doesn't the record icon go away at the end of flight (lost some duels because I thought I was still recording from previous flight)
Like ghosth said. You have to stop recording yourself. The key is same used to start recording. (Alt+r is default)
3.Is it possible to smooth pan to any angle rather than snap views??
Again like he said. The "pan view" of F8 can also be used when using the external F3/F4 views (available in fighters only in replay and offline, always in bombers). Notice that sometimes it seem like F4 doesn't have full freedom of movement (to go all the way around the plane), but try to move camera out a bit. This is mostly used when trying to look behind you with the external F4.
4. Why does ack open up at take off airfield??
The filmviewer currently doesn't record the strategic situation (field ownerships for instance) but will instead use the situation from the offline arena with each country's fields scattered all around the map.
So there is a risk the field you take off from in the film is considered an enemy even tho it wasn't when in the game (check the map, ESC). It won't affect the results in your film tho. Just the visual look (tracers all over)
Snef