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So, everything in life is a trade off. More armor thickness vs Maneuver/Fuel/Bogging

Now, you have the AS AD.

I am thinking if I am mounting a static defense, then maybe I should not be flying during my phasing as there is really nothing happening and maybe this save OP LOSS or mileage. Just fly during the AI phasing.

But logically, this makes not sense, there are not two weeks, but only one week. My planes are on up on patrol so many times each day.

I am confused.

What are the trade offs?

Thanks.

PS: I do know I can have inactive fighter AGs which then only intercept when the enemy are near; perhaps the most efficient use of fighters.

in a way your last comment answers the question, the generic tool for air defensive operations is simply having fighters in the region.

AS has 3 very specific roles:

a) I really want air cover in that specific sector and I don't want to rely on escorts or auto intercept
b) I have surplus long range fighters and I want to dominate enemy airspace and maybe bait their fighters into action on my terms
c) (a sort of variant of (a), I really do not want my fighters to go to some part of the front

Now given combinations of air assets, airfield spread and overall massiveness of the battle area (b) and (c) are pretty esoteric directives. They are key to the air war in WiTW where the allies can start using (b) over the Ruhr and then over most of Germany when they get the P-51s, the axis may well want to bound where they are putting up air cover to ensure their fighters are not overwhelmed by gettung too spread out. Late war the Soviets have the assets in the long range Yak-9s and the Lend Lease stuff for this sort of aggressive AS but then the LW is really not going to respond so you may as well stick to escort roles.

Beyond that, pick the phase that fits your plan so if you are running offensive AS usually your phase, if you are runnning defensive AS usually the enemy phase.

But a useful question is 'why am I even setting up an AS AD'?

And don't overthink time and the air phase, that way lies madness [;)]