My gaming group is converting Star Wars and the new Battlestar Galactica to S:AE.  So we're going to need TIE bombers, Y-wings, B-wings, Raiders with nukes, and armed Raptors with nukes.  We're all veterans of the Lucas Arts space combat simulators as well (I still break out X-wing: Alliance every once in a while), so we're used to having these fighter-bombers launch bombs and missiles with out having to get into point blank range.  The trade of, at least in those games, is that if you fire from too far out your missile can get shot down.  We'd like to be able to simulate that in S:AE.  Currently the vast majority of capital ships we've converted have some quantity of quad-lasers/Anti-aircraft Batteries with the anti-fighter trait and (if i'm remembering correctly) a range of 6 hexes.  So a three hex shooting range would give the fighter-bombers some more capability, while still having to brave the anti-fighter batteries to get their shots in.

I currently have Y-wings in flights of 4 with speed 8, 5+ accuracy, 2 defense, and damage 2 for 51 space units/combat rating
B-wings are also in squadrons of 4 with speed 9, 5+ accuracy, 2 defense, and Extra Hull Damage for 71 space units.

I have been considered writing these up as Hull 1 or 2 ships and see how that works, but you lose the possibility to land on a carrier and the protection that provides.

We're still play testing and trying to balance things out to get the right feel.  I'm sure we can make this work with out fighters having ranged attacks, but it would feel like more like Star Wars if that option were there.

P.S. Thanks for the great game.  My group hasn't been this fired up about playing in quite some time.