The weekend's just around the corner, and IL2-sessions as well.
I have one suggestion. Enable realistic landings.
I've tested that and it doesn't make landings much more difficult, only adds realism. If realistic landings are disabled, you can't break your propeller and you survive (and even bounce off!) from impacts that would surely wreck your plane in real life. I've had crashes in enemy airfields and sea, and it's kind of weird to have your wings blown off but your propeller's still turning while running from your burning plane.