An interesting thread, LambJ, and you are right to point out that nothing is secure, however, PFI is going to be the way ahead (for anything off the battlefield that is). . .. .The advantages of PFI are firstly that the cost curves are flattened and secondly that the RAF should be able to keep up with technology by allowing regular competition between contractors over relatively short term contracts. The most saddening point you raise is in fact where you state “All of the engineers will become civilians” in which I assume you mean that the new engineering contractors will bring their own employees. This, you will find, is all linked with the RAF’s current lack of JAR licensed engineers who would be able to legally service [supervise the servicing of] the aircraft themselves. The RAF’s future engineering training policy is to align training with JAR qualifications but that is a few years away yet. . .. .Bizarre as it may seem, the Wessex seems to be retiring too soon for you.