Tips for identifying targets in simulation mode

[BobDobalina]

I'm trying to play through the entire game in sim mode, as I find it rather more compelling. But, I'm having an awful hard time picking out targets, as I'm sure many of you are.

Does anyone have any tips for picking out targets? I'm in particular having a hard time identifying friend vs. foe in the air. In general friendlies tend to follow the same flight path as you, and don't turn nearly as sharply, but beyond that the only thing I can do is to shoot at one and wait to hear over the radio something like "stop shooting at me!"

For ground targets this one's pretty obvious but, when tank hunting, spiral around overhead and look for flashes, then dive in and aim for the flash was. I, for one, can't see the tank until I'm right on top of them.