First: i make the main plane, put the places where it has the cockpit as hollow
2: add the frame and sorta nudge it around or rescale it until it fits in
3: add the basics, Canopy (which I move 1U to the side) the controls such as the throttle, and joystick
4: gauges, I add lots of gauges, i like gauges, I never use gauges.
5: Buttons, I add buttons and switches, I use pivot for canopy switch if it's a fighter I add an immense amount of buttons for the target and weapons
6: finishing touches, i change the thickness of the fuselages a bit, move back the canopy, look for anything I missed, if I miss anything I move the canopy, fix it then bring it back. I paint it in places where I think it should be bainted
7: custom thumbnail, i take a picture of the plane, such as a landing, or takeoff, or just flying, i then go into blueprints, be very careful to not move the camera, go into upload, take screenshot, upload, add tags and description on my phone. That's all

Other stuff

I might add weapons or flares
Save it, don't loose it
XML out some drag If you find unnecessary drag, such as a straight nose cone made out of a fuselage that makes big drag
With the mini c17 I decreased the opacity of the windows each screenshot