So how do I choose a particular plane and have it on the airfield so I can confirm key binding options and practice takeoff and landings?

[Uriah]

I read parts of the manual and it seems to indicated the TRAINING is stuck with just the trainer plane.  SINGLE does not seem to give a select this plane and select field, select parked or on runway ect.  As best I can tell you have to build a mission to get what I want.  True?

[56RAF_Stickz]

I would certainly ignore the training missions. Its a long long time since I ran them and I believe that now they do not work very well - you certainly only have trainer.

For single there are missions where you start on an airfield (although usually with engine running). However you cannot select aircraft or field as you say without making another mission.  What you can do is call a mission, then when it shows the aircraft image change it to one you want (double click its image and select another from the drop down, then select "save as" - rename it as you wish. You cannot change the airfield, but thats the "simplest" way without entering the mission editor.

If you wish, I have several training missions I wrote for myself, just take off and fly around, I can either post them for you or modify them as you wish to give you a head start without entering mission editor, although its actually fairly simple but if wanting to fly first and try editing later its possibly best bet  

[Uriah]

Thanks Stickz.  I will see if the first suggestion is good enough.

[Art-J]

For cold start missions for just flying around, these are very nicely done: