[joegrundman]

Land based Air are known as Army Air factors (AAF)

Each AAF counter has two numbers, the first is the number of factors present, the second the range (dependent on the theater). So a 2-4 AAF is 2 factors with a range of 4 hexes.

No more than 5 AAF may stack on a port or city or airbase. If one hex has multiple cities and airbase counters, then each of these may stack 5 AAF.

Air factors can perform several missions. A counter with more than one AAF may be split so that some AAF fly one mission while other AAF fly other missions.

The main air missions are:

Offensive ground support = adding the AAF strength to the strength of ground units making an overrun, attack or exploitation attack.

Defensive ground support = adding the AAF strength to defending units which are being attacked.

Interception of defensive ground support = forcing an air combat with enemy AAF before they can support a defending unit

Counter interception = intercepting an intercepting force in the hope that the other mission will be able to accomplish the mission

etc.

Counterair = if in range of an enemy airbase, this mission is an attempt to neutralise enemy air forces by attacking at the enemy base.

Bombing = Economic targets in the enemy country may be bombed

Attacks on Ports, submarines, naval vessels. = as it says.

Flying cover = this mission provides air cover to naval and supply operations within range of a land-based airfield.

specialist air units come at certain times in the game

Air transport = used for air drops of airborne infantry, but also air supply of isolated units and air transport of units.
jets
rockets
Strategic bombers
interceptors (counter or escort strategic bombers)