Why not some refurbished back to the Cadets
Of course once you accept that the fiasco has happened then you could implement 'damage limitation'.
Aerobility only wanted 10 machines, so why could not the rest get the same treatment and carry on the work they were doing.
I think it was all part of getting 'power' out of the volunteer element of VGS and boosting the AEF flights.
Even 40 Vigs spread around the country could impact on the Air element of the RAF Cadets and be positioned to access the regions that have poor 'mainstream' AEF coverage.
There would certainly not be a staffing problem and indeed much useful experience would have been retained to the benefit of all.
A powerful lobby from the head of 2FTS could have impacted on this, but of course it was not in his mind to see 'Volunteers' in the system at all, and the so called 'leadership' at Cranwell thought the Cadet movement was all about twatter and facebook not about flying.
With the true cost of firewall forward replacement and 'new' cockpit fit plus certification probably being around £60k per machine it would still be better value for money to have these SLMG giving AE countywide than loosing them from the system.
Perhaps the new BOSS at Cranwell could look at this,he certainly has the right background.