The flight and the cost of doing it is clearly something the RAF has to reconcile in times that seem to be incredibly cash concious. In days of old
desk pilots would get the chance to fly the Chipmunk round the block to keep their hands in . Clearly it is his 'trainset' and he can play as he wishes . However play time is something you do when the mortars and small arms fire has stopped being directed at the guys and girls who make the trainset work!
To rise so highly in the RAF clearly indicates an ability to carry out the job well on the way up. I do however have my doubts about how the job is carried out at the top when political decisions seem to be reducing the forces
to the degree that they are realistically unable to meet every commitment at present with anything in reserve. The RAF needs to have strong leadership which is able to fight it's cause - whether in the post Iraq/Afghanistan world
the leadership is able to address the equipment shortages and get replacement equipment remains to be seen.