Occasional Aviator
Agreed that
either Chinook or Merlin could fill the role, and also agreed that we need all the lift we can get,
but we do not need two logs chains supporting one role - that reduces the funds available for front line aircraft. One (effective) logs chain means more aircraft available than two (effective) logs chains. This may be our transition period from CH-47 to Merlin, but I doubt it (and I don't really care which we keep - I fly something else entirely
). Either way, keeping both types reduces our total lift capability.