RoF is a great game within its limitations.
As far as air simulations go, I haven't seen any better.
It's like IL-2 but more detailed and subtle.
I like for instance that you can actually damage stuff and not only 1 or 0 (alive or dead state), for instance ships, cars etc.
Here is one useful link:
http://riseofflight.com/en/community/usefulmaterials
...search for:
Skins *.jpg to *.dds thumbnails conversion pack
RoF Official Skinspack v.1.028
...download and install that and you will have much more skins to choose from. Official ones.
I also highly suggest that you get
SPAD 7 plane (you actually get 150 and 180HP variants at once) because those planes are
FAST and you can fly them for most of the war. The best buy plane to put it that way. Not a good idea tho if you plan to exclusively fly for Central Powers.
CP doesn't have some good scout that is flyable thru most of the war, I think that Albatros 5 may be the next best thing.
But apart from really nice handling it doesn't have some great performance char's.
Best Allied scout is Sopwith Camel (best scout in game overall, no question about it, it's like Spitfire on steroids to put it in IL-2 terms) and best CP scout is Fokker D.VIIF.
Best BnZ'ers are S.E.5a and SPAD 13. Both are good as long as you don't tnb with CP scouts, and both can carry bombs.
R.E.8 (allies) is also a good investment along the DFW CW (if you prefer Central Powers), those are also flyable thru most of the war.
Be aware that Allies have the best two seaters, they are very very fast almost as fastest Central Powers scouts (fighters).
I recommend those planes.
ROF community is also very helpful so you can ask whatever you need over there without hesitation.
I can testify that ROF has godlike tech support, whenever I sent a mail to them they sorted out my problems.
All in all, very pleased with purchasing this game (and about 80-90 of its content).
Can't wait to see this map going live:
http://riseofflight.com/en/store/maps/channelmap