[cosmicfish]

Originally Posted by stormlion1

I figure Prime Base was the Main HQ, the Pentagon of the project. At most it has a small runway and a few helicopter pads for getting around.

I agree 100%.

Originally Posted by stormlion1

Even the pilots there have other jobs rather than being pilots alone.

I disagree about 97%. I work with pilots, some very very good ones. Pilots who are not pilots alone are the ones who tend to crash, especially if called upon to do anything tricky. Piloting requires constant practice, especially for helicopters.

Originally Posted by stormlion1

Never figured it out, just figured the Project at some point found and trained pilots and crews and froze them. Many of the Team Members can also be cross trained as pilots and Loadmasters and such as well. When I was in the Air Force I was cross trained as a Loadmaster on the side even though I was in the Security Police. A little cross training never hurt anyone.

Being a loadmaster is not the same as being a pilot. Cross-training is indeed good, but pilots don't grow on trees and the time required to learn and maintain that skill means that any other work will be relatively minor.

Originally Posted by stormlion1

True, but the idea is to keep numbers down. And the more and different kinds of aircraft there are, the longer the logistics chain. I can see them in service in area's though where C-130's cannot operate or at the furthest corners of the logistics chain. They would be the exception, not the rule.

I never said you had to have multiple varieties of bush plane, I am just saying that it is easier and cheaper to have bush planes and bush pilots than even the cheapest and easiest helicopters and their pilots. Seriously, in the exact situations you describe, there are bush planes handling the vast bulk of the work.

Originally Posted by stormlion1

Very few jets, and mostly private ones for moving higher ups around. They wouldn't see much use early on but only when the rebuilding requires someone of import to be there. By that point fuel supplies can be found or they just don't fly or they have Bruce Morrows lovely reactors installed.

I just commented on the issue of fusion-powered turbofans (i.e., they can't exist), and a jet you can only use occasionally seems a hard trade against a prop-plane you can use constantly.

Originally Posted by stormlion1

I separate the two. Regional Hubs are Regional Command Bases that report to Prime and collect info and dispatch orders. They can in the event of failure replace Prime Bases functions in part.

Alright, I have something similar.

Originally Posted by stormlion1

And even the aircraft there wouldn't have assigned pilots but in fact have a pilot for every two aircraft. Less stress on the aircraft themselves and can be replaced if there is a breakdown.

Doesn't seem particularly efficient. Most military and civilian operations reverse that ratio, having more pilots than aircraft. Throw in fusion reactors and you all but need it!

So do a little math, and list your complete Morrow Air Force. Until you have an actual inventory it is impossible to say whether or not any given aircraft makes sense.