Airfield/town populace(RHS)

[m10bob]

With the advent of Winton and Longreach(both known pioneer airfields), why can they not enter the game with airfield support from the beginning??
Same question ref other locations, but these 2 in particular??

[el cid again]

Essentially due to the absense of military air support elements there. It is likely there were actual civil air operations at one or both - Quantas began at one and moved to the other. And - oddly - Quantas IS in the game. But as such only in a single element - the Empire Flying boat element - which being a flying boat is not based on an inland air station!
These aircraft were used by the military for military operations (as was a similar flight of BOAC Empire Flying Boats).
Otherwise, Quantas is also present in the form of pressed equipment - mainly in USAAF Transport units which appear in Australia. Virtually all of the ground support people (and auto mechanics) were called into service and - in most cities and towns - commercial garages were often idle and empty!

Anyway - aside from a general lack of slots for such things - which is now pressing in RHS - we lack the ability to consider general inclusion of such things. In fact, most of the people involved and their flying equipment is present in military units of one sort or another. Players control where air support goes by controlling these units. The rest are running training facilities represented more abstractly in the form of pilot generation, etc. We also lack trainers and light planes in general. It takes a very important exception to show up as a civil para-military unit. Mainly it requires we have the equipment - and a history of para-military operations of some significance. The Empire Flying Boats are an example - and a very marginal one. This is probably the most expendable Allied air slot. But it is cool! And for a brief period in 1942 these machines were significant for maritime patrol.

What we did give you by the inclusion of these airfields is a basic infrastructure on which you may base a military formation - if you choose.

[Ian R]

Sid,
 
its Qantas, no "u" - Queensland and Northern Territory Air Service. Started as a mail carrier using Avro 504Ks. And they still haven't had a crash.
 
 
 
 

[el cid again]

Never could spell English. Japanese and German are easier - almost consistent.

[m10bob]

You make a valid point.. The civilain air assets would be busy training new pilots "off map"(as it were)..
Seems to me IF repair crews were available they would be on those old fields??
You found the supply sinks (IIRC,), would it be impractical to have one wherever the aircraft factories were in Australia, (for refurbishing units)?
Been reading Eric Bergerud's book about the air war in the Pacific and I never realized Darwin is as far from Sydney as it is from Manila, (2000 miles)..Quite a haul...

[el cid again]

Most airplane and vehicle mechanics were in military units - so you have them in the units. Australia depended on (uniquely as far as I know) on railway workshops - which still have civilian mechanics and machinists. They even made airplanes - lots of them in fact! The famous Aussie "sort of fighters" were made in them. Because there were no airplane factories or mechanics not otherwise committed somewhere. [We do have a bit of plane production I think - where it was]

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: el cid again

Most airplane and vehicle mechanics were in military units - so you have them in the units. Australia depended on (uniquely as far as I know) on railway workshops - which still have civilian mechanics and machinists. They even made airplanes - lots of them in fact! The famous Aussie "sort of fighters" were made in them. Because there were no airplane factories or mechanics not otherwise committed somewhere. [We do have a bit of plane production I think - where it was]

Thank you..Some of the stuff I am mentioning is just to keep the creative juices flowing...

[el cid again]

FYI there is a supply sink in Australia with civil aircraft support squads. These are the support elements for the Quantas Empire Flying Boat flight. The flight could move to a different base - but its civil support hub remains at its home.