This covers "jet" type aircraft nicely.

But we still only have a transport helicopter equivalent.

I think there should be a Gunship to go with Dropships - smaller, with a focus on combat instead of transport capabilities.

The issue is that bombers wouldn't be usable unless you were fighting alongside your corp. They would need to be more versatile, and able to defend themselves to at least some degree for when they don't have support. I'm not suggesting they be able to easily knock out aircraft, just have a means of dealing some damage so that a skilled pilot has a fighting chance when his team of randoms won't help him out as he's trying to clear out an objective from the air.

I think the issue here is you're thinking more B52 where I'm thinking more F14. The heavy, carpet-bombing style bomber has all but been phased out in modern times, how much more so in the future? Modern fighter-bombers can pack such a wallop, there's no need for cumbersome aircraft anymore. If you took a Flying Fortress and beefed it up with EVE tech, then slapped it in a battlefield, you'd be looking more at a OB-esque ground attack, blasting a huge area.

A fighter-bomber just makes more sense. More survivable, more fun, more fitting, IMO.

Well, the fighter-bomber would have have a bombing module, the only thing it could use against aircraft would be blasters. The fighter would have missiles (perhaps lock ons?) in addition to blasters, in addition to better maneuverability. Not too much better, but definitely a difference.

I do like the idea of stealth bombers, as I prefer to play more covertly. Would only really work if the bomber had to decloak in order to drop its payload, similar to cloaking in EVE. Otherwise it could become too powerful.

I suppose that in 20k AD there will be a equivalent of Helicopters.
Anyway I would love to have Hoover Jets for sure: that would remove the need for Future Helicopters.

Bomber +1

Fighters +1

SB +...

I think the SB should have to decloak to do anything like the covert ops ships in EVE.

If they can attack while cloaked, that's going to get over powered abuse from everyone.

then +1

sounds good to me

Since the topic has been brought up; gonna throw in my two cents quick. Personally, I think aircraft should take more of a gunship type role. A VTOL type aircraft with mechanics similar to the drop ship except outfitted and designed for combat purposes. It almost seems to me that a more traditional aircraft along a traditional design like has been suggested here would require larger maps. I'm assuming that speed would be one of their greater assets similar to the battlefield series. I can't imagine maps around the size of what we presently have would support 'fast movers' of that nature. I'd suggest that they make them more like helicopter gunships. The concept would even seem to fit better with the idea that the players are independent mercenaries more so than a component of an organized military structure. A VTOL gunship concept requires less infrastructure to support and can be transported into and out of combat zones with a mobile force more effectively. Obviously, more traditional straight wing aircraft require airfields or carriers, which as I am understanding the back story, is not necessarily under the direct control of the Dust mercenaries. At best, it would imply more direct support and involvement from EVE players or organizations for those type of aircraft from a background perspective.