[Rainbow Six]

I agree with you...I think the relevant point here is that from 1998 onwards in my opinion the front line air forces aren't going to be taking 1960's / 70's era aircraft out of storage sites as it's not so much the lack of aircraft that is limiting operations as the lack of fuel...remaining airbases may well still have small numbers of F16's / Mig 29's / Tornados etc which they are struggling to find fuel for as it is so probably don't need more aircraft - they need the fuel. Iirc there is a reference in the Twilight Encounters supplement to the Soviets still having operational Mig 29's used in a photo recon role - Shutterbug I think it was called.

I think the people thay may be more interested in getting old planes out of storage are more likely to be those in areas well away from the front lines where modern combat aircraft are in short supply, for example US forces in California or Texas, both of whom have access to the required fuel but might be lacking in aircraft to utilise said fuel.

The real winners are those that have the aircraft and the fuel...might be interesting to consider what might have remained in the US at places like Top Gun or the Adversary / Aggressor Squadrons (e.g. VFC 13 at Miramar, VFA 127 at Fallon or VFC 12 at Oceana, all of which I think would have operated the F18 in the T2k timeline.