The artificial horizon will keep you at the proper attitude for level flight or show you the angle your plane is on. The cockpit controls show you the ammunition available as well as the fuel you have remaining. Your gunsight can be changed for various ranges of target aircraft. If your plane is hit by enemy gunfire you will hear the hits and feel the results. Dive or turn to avoid further hits.
Landing is really critical.
You must come in at the proper speed and don't forget to lower your wheels. I did this a couple of times and survived the ditching. If your mission was a bust and you got shot down, you can re-fly the mission as many times as you desire to do so. Unless it was a total disaster, you can move on to the next mission instead. You rack up victories and points as you complete each mission.