-which of course is my fault. I thought that with a fuel burn rate of 1.0 25% would be more than enough for a 45-minute round trip flight. But then the 109s didn't last that long in the air either.
Sorry we took so long to get there LW. We launched a few minutes after the 109s did, but we launched in the Hangar, and had to taxi, position and hold for takeoff. We then headed due W for altitude, until we were dead S of A3, then ran N to the IP due W of 7. Turned on IP, hit the target, got intercepted right as we were dropping, then thanks to screwups by Yours Truly (never, ever order a 90-degree turn for buffs when they're engaged with interceptors), half of the buffs headed home, and the other half hit 8.
There were some good chaotic moments. My bomber took two fuel leaks, which happened to be in two of the three tanks that had fuel in them. I managed to save a drop for final, and took her in.
The best was watching the landings.
Crash came in for a no-flaps approach (battle damage). LIttle did he know that that hydraulics damgae got his gear on one side too. He touched down expertedly, slowed enough before he scraped and spun out onto a crossing runway.
Sunchaser got the "You Have LAnded Successfully" award though.
Coming in on a deadstick, he became aware that he was too high, and, knowing he wouldn't be able to go around, he crossed controls, then broke hard left and tried to curve back towards the runway.
I watch from the tower and think "he's not going to make it"
Sure enough, he comes low over the grassy fields a couple hundred yards from the threshold, heading at a 45 degree angle to the runway. He's out of energy. He tries to straighten out, dips a wing and as everyone in the tower rings the fire bells and races to the trucks, hits wingtip-first short of the threshold.
The wing snaps clean off; the force of the collision sends the plane swinging the other direction, and he blows out his left tire. FIghting desperately for control of his wounded bird, sunchaser somehow manages to bring the smoking wreck to a stop on the ashpalt.
Absolutely beautiful.
My only recommendation would be for the CM to "sign over" the mission to the country CO (change the "designer" name to that of the CO), so the CO can make adjustments (course, takeoff runway, fuel load) without having to lobby the CM.
