welcome fr12nk, everything you want to know is here in this forum...just first look at the stickies. most of the real important facts are there....if not then do a few searches. as for planes and unlocks....
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=13167
as for finding flyers to play with....go through this thread ( new pilots report here) and add those in your time zone or time that you specifically play.