i have no clue about craft distances or damages done. i need numbers.
check the ..ufoai..\base\0ufos.pk3
extract archive --> aircraftmanagement.ufo
its a simple weapon damage minus shield value = actual damage (EDIT: completely ignoring the weapon accuracy which should make/have an impact)
note that the damage integer within the aircraft specs are in fact the aircraft health points, so for example the firebird has a HP of 200.
So, depending on the aircraft, the weapon (that the aliens are firing at you), the shield ( aircraft armour) ..; the shield will usually let you take at least another hit.
.. for example the Saracen has a value of 125 damage (or health points), so against the PBW or particle beam weapon ( which has a weapon damage of 40) The first few armours ( they go +4 to +8) of polymer and alien plating will not allow you to survive the fourth hit.
Alien polymer ( of +16 I believe) , will give you not just the fourth, but the fifth hit, of course the sixth hit will kill ya.
Most ppl run Stilettos of course...