Flipster130 :-
...whilst D &W come across as 'oily' in the extreme, they too, are only human and prone to errors. Whilst they seem reluctant to admit that, they must have had some reason for abandoning any grasp of logic and understanding - no-one could be that stupid without some exceptional 'motivation' to find against those could not answer back. I doubt it was money that was motivating them, or a sense of wider duty (both far too self-centred for that), so it was likely to be external and/or peer pressure - warning of possible loss of face/kudos if they didn't be good little boys and toe the party line. Wonder who it was who applied the pressure ?
I think that flipster has it about right. The aircraft captain was also the detachment commander and had pleaded that the task be allotted to the Mk1 Chinook. He (and others) clearly had great misgivings about the Mk2. It was one thing to risk their own lives in the Mk2 on operational tasks but this was completely different, a glorified jolly to Fort George for the cream of our security personnel to network and play a game or two of golf. The order stood to fly them in this troubled aircraft. Who confirmed it? Group, Command, higher? The ROs 'finding' was so over the top that it rather smacks of impressing their seniors rather than expressing their own thoughts. Why take such a reckless risk when the RAF High Command knew just how compromised the Mk2 was? Wanting to impress the Army in particular that the upgrade was in squadron service and available to them? We've had enough conspiracy theories in the original accident thread but at least now we know how grossly unairworthy the aircraft was and how the RAF/MoD has striven from the get-go to enforce a cover up.
Episode 1 was superb to my mind. The testimony of the families was humbling. Having lost husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and then been blatantly lied to, they still demand to know why their loved ones died and are prepared to be interviewed and filmed 30 years after the tragedy to keep it in the public eye. BBC Central clearly thinks differently and confined it to their NI and Scotland regions for local consumption. Wishing to satisfy others? Certainly they would be in good company; Assistant Chief Constables, HM Coroners, HSE, Select Committees, QCs, all have avoided crossing lines in the sand and done their 'duty'.
Airworthiness, or rather the lack of it, is an arcane subject that has had to be sold hard to aviation professionals, never mind the poor bloody licence payer. So perhaps little mention of it here is hardly surprising. I've yet to view Part 2 but from others' comments it seems for 'Series 1' that's it. Let us hope that a Series 2 will follow and that the entire series be broadcast nationally. In the meantime, all the more reason to read David Hill's three Mull books to better understand the depths of this evil conspiracy. It is no less!