Originally Posted by HOODED
Perhaps we don't anymore! Remember the 74 Sqn Phantoms not spey powered them ones very smokey and I believe the C17s are US standard too. Maybe we learned our lesson. "If it aint broke dont fix it"
IIRC, the F4Js were USN hand-me downs, bought in a rush in the early 1980s because in the wake of the Falklands War, the Whitehall Brain Trust decided that if they were going to subject air defence aircrews to 4 months of misery at MPA, it might help relieve the boredom somewhat if they were given something with which to startle the sheep and penguins. Hence additional a/c were required as a stop gap for 3-4 years or so until that marvel of European cooperation, the F3, took the job on.
I also beleive that the C-17s are leased, and were just grabbed from a USAF production batch. Eventually aren't we supposed to give them back?