A United Land

"Try to stay in the middle of the air. Do not go near the edges of it. The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there."

                                            - Basic flight rules

     Carpet bombing, known to the Equestrians as "Strategic Bombing From 5000 Hoofmeters", "Area Bombing" by the Crystal Ponies, and "On No Not Again" by the Griffin and Changeling populace in the latter parts of the war. The Spiteful C-4 was purposely designed to have incredibly long range, more than the bombers to be able to escort, dogfight, and make it back to the base.

    But like always, military plans rarely go to plan.

    "Rainbow, you can't leave the bombers unprotec-oh, dear...." the Rainbow in question had gone chasing after a formation of four biplanes that make a pass in the bombers. It was a diversionary attack to draw away the escort, and for the most part, it was working. The Rainbow Tail Spitefuls had been the main escort force, leaving the 12 Omega Spitefuls to cover 500 bombers.

    "Orders, sir?"

    "Split up to get on the entire form. Keep the lead safe, it's the only bomber with a bombsight."

    Several weeks of bombing raids had shown that bombers were incredibly vulnerable. Flim and Flam had kept on adding guns, until there were quadruple guns on the "chin", the ball turret, tail, top, and a pair of double waist guns. A pair of single guns for the bombardier was put in the nose.

    Early on, the ponies put the bombers on a pedestal; they were like indestructible flying super fortresses that would shoot their way in and shoot their way out. Fighters would strafe airfields to divert fighters away from the bombers.

    "Rainbow, I said get you flank back here right now! Buck! Now they're coming! Get them!"

    Like mentioned by Nyx, Spitefuls were ill suited to do ground attack. They were simply too fast. Frustrated pilots would only have several seconds of firing time before they would overshoot their target.

    "I goth this ace! I'm the fastest Pegasus in Equestria!"

    As time wore on, the strategists (ponies who compile their opinions into impressively thick mania folders to get the generals to just simply agree with them) suggested the addition of more and heavier guns.

    "Celestiadammit! Those fighter hotshots, chasing after the loudest bark!"

    The First Bomber Wing, the first (obviously) and the most experienced included some of the most famous bombers of the war. Baltimare Belle, LuLu, Super Wabbit, Molasses Overcast, we're just a few preserved in war museums and some still flying today.

     "This is Wocket Ship going down!"

     Most of them, at least.

     "Fine, fine, were coming!"

     The magical 25th mission was the last one, and so far, only Double Trouble was the one who made it. It was therefore very important that the fighters protect the bombers with more missions under their belt.

      "Hey, the Prench are here!"

      Equestria sold Germane and Prench a couple Clydesdales in hopes of getting them to join the war.

      "Yes, this is their 7th suicide mission."

      Of course, without proper instructors, they had issues trying to make the same number of landings as takeoffs.

      "Hey, vhat about ze Germane? Vy do zou never care avbout uz?"

      The Germane also make a three engined heavy night fighter, using a miniature version the Equestians had for home defense. It came with a lot of bugs when Ace was asked to test it, though it was incredibly advanced.

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Problem: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

Solution: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

Problem: Test flight OK, except autoland very rough.

Solution: Autoland not installed on this aircraft.

Problem: #2 Propeller seeping prop fluid.

Solution: #2 Propeller seepage normal. #1 and #3 propellers lack normal seepage.

Problem: The autopilot doesn't.

Solution: IT DOES NOW.

Problem: Something loose in cockpit.

Solution: Something tightened in cockpit.

Problem: Evidence of hydraulic leak on right main landing gear.

Solution: Evidence removed.

Problem: Number three engine missing.

Solution: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

Problem: DME volume unbelievably loud.

Solution: Volume set to more believable level.

Problem: Dead bugs on windshield.

Solution: Live bugs on order.

Problem: Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent.

Solution: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

Problem: IFF inoperative.

Solution: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.

Problem: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

Solution: That's what they're there for.

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     "There retreating! Back in formation!"

     The Griffins were slowly being pushed back by sheer numbers. It was also that they attacked Saddle Arabia, their largest oil exporter, and the more and more unlubricated war machine was slowly grinding to a halt.

     Solution? Make decoys.

     A wooden airfield was meticulously  constructed, with wooden gas tanks, wooden planes, wooden hangers, and several wooden hangers. Fed up with their antics, Ace went and dropped a perfectly crafted wooden bomb.

    "We survived this time, guys. I'll be buying you all a drink when we get back."

    The changelings had received plenty of Griffin technology, with the deal that Hive attack Equestria if the Griffin Empire lost the war.

    "First Bomber Wing to Rainbow Tails and Flying Clowns, we thank you for the escort. See you in the next milk run."