UPD.
In my last campaign I tried to set "realistic"* promotions off, add junior ranks down to Pilot Officer, build large fighter wings and train a mob of fighter pilots, holding them without promotions. Even for me there was too much micromanagement with a miserable battle effect.
(*) I put this word at quotes, because there is a little realism, when you have 23y.o. captains, 24y.o. generals, 26y.o. Admiral of the Fleet... and 21y.o. senior sectoral administrators, after all.