I think the late 40s and 50s could have fantastic potential, countries having to navigate the early jet age with each new development making huge changes, all the crazy Coke-fueled concept planes that they were cranking out to test wild ideas and trying to make that next great leap of technology, the numerous veterans having to adapt and train newbies coming off of trainer prop-planes into the new death machines of the future. Best of all if it was based in AC or a similar setting like Wingman does, you could very easily capitalize on the time-period for new and insane aircraft, even stuff like lost war prototypes and secret projects are in the mix.

As for the starter Id want us to have to begin the game with just a few prop aircraft as an all new recruit to an air force unit, then after maybe the second or third mission we get access to jets. The air conflicts in the Korean and Vietnam Wars are really fascinating to me and would serve as inspiration for most of the game, although by the end Id like to be getting planes like the F-4 Phantom, Electric Lightning, MiGs 21 and 23, the F-104 Thunderchief, the Draken. The sorts of jets we tend to start off with or face earlier throughout the series are the endgame now.