I've actually only started with the training missions, and never stepped into the campaign. Reading the original 4.0 campaign manual it seems to suggest that I can pick any aircraft of the four-flight. I'll not have a chance to test it for a few more days, so if someone can let me know if one can successfully fly as Wingman in BMS - and how the AI handles it - that'd be great.

I can confirm that it is possible. When clicking on a mission in the Mission Schedule, there are 2-4 (depending on the number of planes) plane icons in formation. You can assign yourself to any one of these by clicking it, whether it be Lead or Wingman.

The times I tried it, I did get a reasonable amount of communication from the AI lead. He'd assign formation and targets and give orders (e.g. "You are shooter").

Cool, thanks for answering. It might be an easy way into the thing - I'm barely able to handle all systems yet, leading a flight might be a bit much for starters.

Related question - is there any way to get an easy mission from takeoff to landing that is not training, but not inside the campaign? Basically a "single mission"?

This really needs trainingwheels available for download...

This is the same AI that as a wingman has a bandit locked up, finger on the button asking to be set free before it's a blip on your own scope?

I have a small set of TE's identical to each others but with increased opposition.
I could spend an evening hosting them and fly with you to share whatever I know (not much but it's always fun to fly MP and geek talk )
Of course you can fly them solo SP if you feel MP is way too early: [http://odenhouse.servegame.com/FlightSchool.7z]
(in all honesty, it's never too early to MP but we all have our own opinions and that should be respected)

I really have to try those, thanks. Will they allow player-selected loadout and flying from taxi to landing? (the biggest downside for the trainings IMHO).

Also very much appreciate the MP Training offer, but my game times are very random and I'm on EU timezone, so I found it in the past much too time consuimg to actually arrange MP. And my knowledge sucks, too

Yepp, Base armament of 6xMk82 to be changed to suit whatever feels intereting to try.
Take off should be within 15 to 20 minutes so no urgent need to stop the clock.

TimeZone for MP is no issue, I'm in Sweden and noticed you're in Vienna, but no worries, I'll be around if you feel like trying out the MP procedures next year too.

Have you had a look at the mission editor? It's very, very simple to just make a quick takeoff/nav/landing mission. it's just setting waypoints.

The only tricky thing is working out the time needed for your rampstart. If you want to learn nav timing then it's a matter of tweaking how much time you give yourself. Too little and you'll be behind, too much and you'll be sitting a while on the taxiway. Nav timing is important, especially when you start playing seriously to meet up with your package.