"We are now beginning to see engineering mistakes creep in that we have not seen for 30 years," said an RAF source.
Speaking as someone who left the RAF 34 years ago I should be interested to know what "engineering mistakes", prevalent in that era and only now re-emerging, the RAF source might be referring to. Certainly my understanding at the time as an AT line pilot was that RAF engineering standards were second to none. Of course I stand to be corrected, but it might be nearer to the truth to simply say that the "engineering mistakes" creeping in now we have not seen since much further back,
if ever!