"then the only thing that matters is the size of your fuel tanks (and thus your endurance on task) and not where you took off from"
But that presupposes an unlimited surplus of aircraft and aircrew so that there are always enough in the air at all times to respond immediately. But thats not the case is it? You have a limited number of aircraft, of which at any point a significant proportion have to be in transit to/from the area. And the further the basing site from the area, the higher proportion have to be in transit. Now, assuming equal numbers of aircraft, which is going to give you more aircraft over area awaiting tasking? A basing site one hour (or less) from target or a basing site three hours (or more) from target? Even if you have twice or even three times the number of aircraft at the remote basing site the numbers still don't match
And we all now how flush the RAF is with working aircraft...
Last edited by jamesdevice; 16th Aug 2011 at 14:18.