Re: SAM Effectivness
 

The ability to withstand some damage (like A-10's and attack choppers) is already in the code. They are harder to damage. Whent hey do get damage, even 1 point, that doesn't mean a 'light' hit, but a hit serious enough to make the pilot go home. All those 'light' damage hits aren't registered.

As to being attacked by planes already hit, I think Mustang means that planes which are hit while doing their attack run will continue with the run unless actually destroyed before they reach the target. Damaged planes don't return for later turns, but they do continue with their mission in the turn they are being damaged.

Narwan

Re: SAM Effectivness
 

I guess Plasmakrab's right about how the "plane disintegrates slowly". Still, the Apache and A-10 are very rugged and could probably take a MANPAD hit to one of the engines and continue flying missions. I'm not sure how the code treats this, but if it dosen't do it already I think that it should allow Warthogs and the better attack helos to stick around after one MANPAD hit.

Re: SAM Effectivness
 

I agree with what Narwan says, all things considered, if the plane takes a hit that doesn't damage it further than some holes in unimportant sheet-metal parts (i.e. no functional damage) the game will return a "hit but no damage" or something. That is also what the armour rating is here for.

As already stated, any damaging hit should mean a direct trip back home, as a better option than "procrastinated crash", so to speak, however rugged the plane.

Re: SAM Effectivness
 

Forgot to mention something about helos, too. Remember that the more sophisticated (and with any luck survivable) your helo, the more infrastructure you will need to keep it up and working.
As opposed to a Huey-type helo (even armed) you better not let an advanced combat chopper like an Apache or a Tiger 'sleep on the field' or scratch-repair it in a hurry with the repair van's toolbox.
So if damaged, you wouldn't land such an advanced-tech helo 500m behind FLOT but rather take it back to a decent base for extensive maintenance.