I know we all like to reminisce and have fond memories of our previous aircraft but can you honestly say you would have wanted to see Buccaneers (of any state of modification) in RAF service in 2019?!
I agree that Strike Eagles would have been awesome but buying off the shelf is never attractive to governments.
Lets face it, despite the banter, the Tornado did a sterling job for four decades but even a solid workhorse such as that has to pass into history eventually.
It was Gulf War videos of the GR1 in action that cemented my future career choice so it’ll always have a special place in my heart, even if I never got to fly it.
Now I look back at those same videos and cherish the Jaguar segments instead of course.
BV