I think the main problem is that new players need settings that the veteran players loathe, and vice versa.
New folks need to have FUN in the first 10 minutes - not spend them setting up their joystick or learning about which plane is the best one or asking question how to find other planes (what is the darbar????). The competition from other games offering a very polished and well guided experience in the first in-game minutes is very strong these days and if folks can´t fly and fight right away (even if they loose), they are gone.
I fully believe that the only solution is to have a mandatory, interactive, well guided and fun tutorial for new players. Its a huge coding effort for sure, but it is industry standards nowadays and for a game as complex as Aces High, there is no alternative.
Jan