Lightningmate,
indeed true, cost was not the issue. It was mainly political with the Met Office and the Universities wanting to move away from MoD and a belife that QQ was ripping them off.
Universities got taken in by the Baron, that they could get an airframe that would go higher, faster, further and better payload than Snoopy, at a fraction of the cost, and without all the red tape associated with mil regs.
Move forward 3 years, can't go higher, half the range, less payload, very inflexable operation (JAR ) and the cost................
But WE TOLD THEM SO!!!!!!!!!
