firstly, there is NO Hc3 at odiham. Secondly, it will be some time before we see an operational MK3. Of the 8 that were bought, most of the 'unused' ones were sent back to the us, very early after the initial afghan conflict, to fill a stopgap in the us army. This was a deal signed by the government, in a part exchange deal, as the US re desparate for them. Part of the deal, is the RAF was to be supplied with upgraded MK2's which had the larger tanks, and glass cockpit. As where this deal is currently at, no one knows, but seing has we had to 'rob' the Chinny from the falklands to meet other tasks, it shows how desparate we are for airframes at present. Overcommited?