amb,
Your powers of perception are just what the RN need - sign up today!
prOOne, 16B and others,
It is the attitude of the pilot that counts not who "owns the a/c" (they are all owned by the MoD) and as has been proven over the years the RN have the better attitude (not unionised, do not need to stay in hotels etc). All RN aircrew are FAA whichever TLB "owns" the a/c incl the junglies.
16B's figures are all fine except that he needs to project them forward 10-15 years. My understanding after last summer's cuts is that the RAF FJ force will be down to something like 80 jets. If the RN are flying 20 odd of them then it seems to me that they will provide about 25% of the crews. I accept that there will be hundreds of useless Typhoons in storage - what Service has wasted Defence £Bs with a contract for a/c it does not need. Re the tanker fleet - I thought it was going out to charter with sponsored reserve crews?
Fly Navy!