Nice idea... except lets take it one step further. Sorties end when your plane comes to a complete stop. That's a true sortie. Take off, do something, land. Then again, you mine as well exit your plane you'd come up quicker. Rearm/refuel pads remind me of those ammo sprites in Quake, and the repair pad smacks of the health sprites. Go get one and "bing!" you have more ammo and/or life. Guess I'm alone on this one though. *shrug*
-SW