I never intended to imply that operators in the UK were raking it in hand over fist while their American counterparts did it for the love of flying and the joy of sharing. I am well aware that the best way to make a small fortune in aviation is to start of with a large fortune. I just wanted to know who was getting my money.
If it's £40 an hour in the US and £90 per hour in the UK then someone is taking £50 off me for no apparent reason. I'm prepared to believe that that is £10 for shipping parts, £10 for the supplier of the parts, £10 to the CAA and £20 to Gordon Brown. I just wanted to know and I have, to some extent, got my answer, thank you all.
I still think it's bl@@ding disgraceful, though