I remember long thread and heated debate about the fuel multiplier during the transition between AH1 and AH2.
The practical consequence of x1 multiplier is that fuel becomes meaningless. All planes could easily fly at full throttle during a typical 20-30 minutes sortie and "RTB fuel" is something you will never hear again - players will get shot down or run our of ammo long before running out of fuel. The typical loadout will be 25%+DT with some very short legged planes going up to 50%.
Surprisingly, the planes that will benefit the most are not the short legged planes, but the ones with the highest fuel consumption - the big american radials. P47s achieve their range by carrying enough fuel to heat the homes of a small country for a year and then guzzle in a bulimic frenzy. Halving the burn rate multiplier means that planes would typically carry half the fuel they do now and this is a significantly greater weight reduction for the big radials than it is to the LA7 with its vodka bottle size fuel tank or the fuel efficient Merlins that often do not need full tanks as it is. Yes, LA7 could go longer, but how often is it really limited in range now, unless you really, absolutely, must, keep the throttle firewalled for 30 minutes?
In real action the fuel economy plays a significant role. It defined the role of planes and influenced their design. Large scale air combat ends when one side must RTB due to fuel, not when everyone is shot down. It would be a pity to completely miss this aspect to tactical combat.
