There are 5 skill levels in the game. Rather than increasing the abilities of the computer opponent, however, the skill levels increase the complexity of the game. As you progress in difficulty, various new features are added to the game such as slips and skids, banking, shot burst length, stalls and spins, high-G turns and blackouts, blind spots, a system of phased movement and combat execution, and altitude. The Tour of Duty itself features a more normal difficulty setting, which affects the number of enemy planes you are likely to encounter on a mission. You may then choose between a Dogfight, Combat Mission, or a Tour of Duty.
Dogfights are single encounters between set groups of planes.
A Combat Mission simulates an entire mission from takeoff to landing. There is even a mission builder included in the game which allows you to create just about any type of encounter you desire. The real heart of the game, however, is the Tour of Duty. In the tour of duty, you assume command of a squadron of 16 pilots, beginning in Early 1943 and running until the end of the war. The tour consists of a sequence of seasons during which you will fly missions.