Flopgun
There is only one ‘L’ in
Air Vice-Marshal (and it’s hyphenated).
The Texan will have no RW/ME pilots on it - it is now a FJ only aircraft. So that pathway is now effectively closed. To be brutally honest, as a single-seat FJ fleet now, then it is only really now for youngsters to join it, build the capacity, speed of learning, speed of reaction and ability to build muscle memory. In the past a good WSO or Nav could assist the slower learner in a 2 seat FJ, but the Typhoon and F35 are in a different league to anything we’ve had before. I’ve seen previously qualified Typhoon mates go back to the jet and struggle. It’s also punishing on the body now it’s a 9g game and so unless you have grown up with it, or transitioned to it, then it isn’t for those new to it in their late 30s or early 40s.
The plan is, and always has been, to allow some Pilot (ISR) RPAS to cross-over to the multi-engine ISTAR types. There may be an option to re-role to Air Mobility, but the goal is to retain ISTAR experience and retain the knowledge. No plans whatsoever to cross over to the RW or FJ streams. The first cross-overs are expected to be announced next year - with up to 2 per year from now on (depending on pipeline capacity and the needs of the various forces).