Originally Posted by
GeeRam
I just don't see how an RAF the size that it now is, in a ever decreasing airshow calender, can still justify a full time 9-ship display team, whatever they fly.
Especially when you consider the amount of crumbling DIO infrastructure, accommodation blocks
sans heating, state of MT and lack of personnel and kit. The recent F-35 QE accident report lays bare many of the issues. I'm ambivalent about RAFAT but rather than scrapping it, I'd
much prefer to see the services get the funding they need to make RAFAT justifiable.
I'm not convinced about the recruitment argument but there must be some soft power gain from RAFAT, in the same way that France and Italy must get some benefit from their equivalents.