B I, I'm (or rather was) in the plank brigade but I could follow your drift and share your despair. The RAF's purpose is war, when it isn't at war it should be preparing for war. The support it gets from industry and commerce should enable it in that purpose. The leadership of the RAF should be directed principally at that purpose, all other considerations are secondary. Thus training and equipment must be of the highest calibre to ensure that the RAF can prevail in war. If it is not then we are simply being prepared for defeat by a rival air force. There seems little point in that so we need to employ every tool available, and I completely endorse your call for a return to traditional military airmanship in all its guises. It is more vital than ever, given the problems that abound in military airworthiness now (cue the apologists).