The gun battery on the Great Fox can serve as a platform, but it damages you while the beam is charging. You can destroy it by attacking it, but it doesn’t come back once it breaks.
You can jump on the Arwings that fly by. They fire beams, which you can use to your advantage if you reflect them. Sometimes Wolfens fly by, too.
If you’re playing as Fox or Falco, quickly press the down taunt to see a Star Fox transmission conversation.