Oh, and SkippedOnce - I'm not of the antipodean variety, merely exchange filth. Can't comment on the Rarely Available After Four boys but I know they'll be awfully pleased to see their WedgeTail thingy in operational service. It might even get to operate in Australia..............but more likely in Afghanistan.....in fact anywhere sandy.
Their RAN brethren are in the same (proverbial) boat as the RN. Not enough hours, never a sign of a radar equipped jet, feet wet, so currency a big issue. Also, their Freddies are not trained to nearly the same level as ours - which really scares the bejesus out of me. However, this brings me back to my original point - AD is just not fashionable these days. Don't get me wrong, its great fun and I personally loved every minute of my 7 years of it
BUT moving mud/sand is where its at - unless we suddenly go to war with China/Russia etc. When we'll be in the poo.
