FF
Good post and you are right to point that out. I would suspect that because of the pressure already exerted, the ac actually in theatre ARE as well protected as any of ours have ever been. But we have so few that if one breaks, there is not another to spare, so the pressure to use slick/dumb frames increases. For now, I would think we can't risk that and our crews are better protected in AFG than ever we were in 2002/3.
Also, I'd love to know to which 'pilots' Reid has spoken and what was actually said. I can't believe anyone at Lyneham didn't want foam in the their wings, so it is probably Reid's lot playing with words...again. More likely, Reid probably spoke to the cleaners when he visited Lyneham - because all the crews were away in the desert!
Anyone here prepared to comment about an 'overheard' conversation?
Flipster