Oh you think the same as me jejejeje. i know is a game, but a firebird flying around the planet without refueling... is difficult! I mod my game so the firebird only gives 6000 km. This makes the game very difficult because you need basicaly 8 teams for ground missions.
I was thinking about a modified saracen to transport soldiers faster and longer, at the price of exclude any capacity to load electronics or weapons and a space only for 6 troops. This way is possible to have only one ground team and many radar or airbases.
Because my mod, i rise the price of the ufos, so it could be easier to develop, but i rise the price of fighters too. By this way, if i lose an aircraft, i lose the money found from a recovered ufo.
I prefer a center base for a single ground team, but the idea of a firebird reaching all places of the world is very inaccurate.