Awesome thread! Haven't chuckled so much in ages. Too often, the subject is tackled on the premise that 'we don't fight at low level anymore', which, whilst a fair point, is only the tip of the iceberg! Intercepts at low-level has already been mentioned. What about Close Air Support? Whatever a theatre commander has decreed as a hard deck is all very well, however, me thinks this would soon change to something lower if the pongoes were in direct contact and not doing so well, and the weather did not permit medium level support. What about night? Many threats (Older IR-type - of which we all know is the BIGGEST reason for operations at medium level - lots of 'em) become obsolete when flying low at night. Again, the environment, weather and situation on the ground (especially on the ground) will always dictate risk levels and hence hard decks. At the end of Op Allied Force, who did Wes want on stby to provide low-level (if required) CAS support should the troops have been sent in? British assets, no less. In addition, don't forget that low flying (and especially at night) hones the skills to such an extent that medium level ops often becomes a walk in the park.....(certainly for muds)