How would the air game change if ESF, libs, and galaxies had HP stripped and readded as shields?

Currently, NAR is so prevalent due to the fact that flak can come from very, very far away. Up to a kilometer, in fringe cases. The damage at that range is minimal, but still quite noticable. ESF especially need absolutely every HP point they have. It's the difference between fiery death and a successful hot landing and repair.

So giving them a pool of automatically recharging HP...it'd lessen the burden. It's make composite and stealth builds more viable, as well as radar builds. Fire suppression would have to be adjusted to heal the same amount it does, but could still work.

Something in the ballpark of taking about 50% of the ESF HP to shields, and perhaps 10% to liberators and galaxies. The latter don't need as much help, as they have more HP to fulfill objectives. A scratch is much less often the difference between life and death.

It wouldn't buff aircraft in direct confrontation. It would embolden them on the fringes. And it would also allow them to participate more often in battle. The recharge rate can be adjusted. NAR might even speed up shield regen so as to not make it obsolete in the face of such a change.

But really, as much as people hate on aircraft, it'd be nice if we gave them a few concessions that aren't direct buffs.

It is a buff, and a substantial one at that.

Why would air get this, but I need to repair my tank?

fire suppresion and nar are already quite powerfull; they shouldn't be "included" with stealth.