Airborne artist, hey you certainly aren't an old fart are you, because if you are then so must I be! I have to agree with you since I too (as you know) was desperate to be a military pilot, so desperate that I joined the Senior Service to do it! I was chopped but darned glad of the chance I can tell you! The RAF will always need aircrew (let us not explore the UAV question at tne moment) and it has no shortage of those wanting to apply. The same is true to a lesser extent for RAF Police and PTIs and no, it cannot be compared with a civilian organisation (even though some would like it to be!).