my idea is this:

have a block that uses the same AI as the turrets on the destroyers, but make them target any enemy aircraft, then add two different rotators (hinge/swivel) that are connected to the block with changeable options:

rotators:
Range (0--> 180)
speed (0-->100)

Horizontal control: True/false
Vertical control: True/false

Activation group: 1-8

Select Turret block (like selecting an engine for the wheels)

The block itself would be different:
Turret block
Range: sets the range in which the turret will target/ fire on said aircraft

Select guns: chose the guns that are to be assigned to block (like the wheel to the engine)

Select Cockpit: this is special because once the cockpit is selected the turret won't shoot at something connected to the cockpit (ex: wing, engine, fuselage block, etc)if it is in the way of the target.

Targeting: options for it to target land/and or air targets.

other stuff
Gun types
Add one more gun type: a WW2 flak gun. (for historical purposes obviously)

THIS IDEA WOULD LIMIT THE CONTROL COMPLEXITY OF EACH AIRCRAFT, ALLOWING THE PLAYER TO FOCUS ON FLYING, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO KEEP PULLING UP AND USE VTOL+TRIM FOR THE TURRETS.