Before everyone gets too carried away with the thought of around 18 shiny Airbus tankers sitting on the line with roundels akimbo it is worth remembering that whoever won the contract the aircraft would remain their property. I believe that means the RAF will be allocated just enough aircraft each day to meet the pre-agreed contractual tasking, all other frames will be at the beck and call of the contractor and if the RAF want more they will have to pay extra and may have to join the queue with the bucket and spade trade. It could end up in a more complex situation than that in force with the C17, only time will tell. The only good thing about the decision is that at last it has been made.