Hey, I have been playing a new-jericho + pp only legend campaign. I have to say that the addition of the behemoth makes it considerable harder, but I am not complaining about that. I am having fun. So, I was thinking what would make the aircraft’s more cool then only mini-games.
Battleground air-support.
At any map, except caves, you can use the weapons of the aircraft as support.
The weapons will have a turn cool down and use real ammo.
Weather conditions can reduce the accuracy of the weapons or even make the map unable to have air-support.
The aircraft stays at the sides of the map, it is supporting not actively engaging.
It is ‘technically’ out of range of the enemy weapons. 
But I think this or something like this will not come into the game. And we all see the aircraft landing, lol. Just a fun thought exercise.
ps, just a side note, what also would be cool is to reduce the repair cost of robotic parts. Armor and weapons gets repaired for free, maybe charge a lil bit for that. (or all freeeeeee)