More rules:
When you come across 3 buffs while in a single fighter, you will have a good run of it, and get a kill or more. When coming across a lone, smoking buff, while in a pack of fighters, you will most likely be shot down.
Oil, who needs oil?
When you take a round above your base, it's usually in the oil tank, forcing you to land and repair, (which is annoying!). When you're 40 miles away from base, you'll take a hit in the fuel tanks, which forces you to land (hah! more likely "glide") and repair (which is annoying!)
-Freelancer