Never seen one mount one, does not mean they don't. I have seen them mount them in the hundreds and often their units are better than mine. I would expect that an Emperor level game that saw you have Flight, would see them with at least cavs, unless they were on a small island. If the town did not have terrain issue, mountains/hills/jungle/etc, they could hit you on the IBT.
Agreed; you'd be best founding your new town on a hill, with comfortable distance from the main hub of the civ you are invading. Jungle or forest between you and them would be a bonus, too. Obviously the better placement you can find, the more likely the plan is to work. Also, I'm certainly going to rush a barracks as soon as the airport is done. Maybe walls, but by turn 3 I'd wager the battle has already been won or lost. However, I still maintain that I've never seen a computer mount a hugely effective attack on the first turn of war unless they've been preparing for it and have railroads to get their scattered units all to your doorstep at the same time.
If you had 8 units, 2 galleons or 1 vanilla transport, they would likely be lost. If the game was above Emperor and you land with 8 units, you are surely toast.
Also agreed. That why I said land a bunch of helos with your best infantry aboard. The nice part is that you can rebase the helos, wake the infantry, and fortify them on the same turn. If you can rebase 8 or 9 helos, you're going to be pretty well set, especially against cavs. Tanks... you're prolly screwed unless you have mech inf.
I would not be shocked if you land with 8 units and they can reach you, that you do not even get a town founded.
Well, assuming you are not already at war with the civ you are landing near, you could just drop off the settler and leave the rest on the boat, movng the boat out of their territory. They will naturally tell you to leave, but I've never seen them
force a settler out of their territory unless a lot of your combat units accompany him. Next turn, found the town and move your transports in, unload and fortify.
Here is the other problem. You will not even have 8 units as you have at least 1 settler.
As I said, rebase helos. Or bring more transports. Obviously a critical part of this plan working is the amount of support you can bring in.