Lamb:. .Why all the gloom?. .As a result of PFI, 84 should get some shiny new state-of-the-art aircraft, which will probably be military registered (like the Shawbury/Valley aircraft)and will have no detrimental impact on the aircrew situation. Contractor owned aircraft can be operated at much less cost than MoD owned aircraft and part of the rationale is that if civilian maintenance schedules are adhered to, the aircraft can almost instantly be restored to the civil register and therefore has a decent residual value during, and at the end of, the contract. The downside to squadron life is that the engineers do have to hold civil licences: that, for the present at least, means that they will be civilian, though probably there will be some light blue uniforms around.. .Of the contending Wessex 'replacement' aircraft there are several, including a better version of the B412 currently in service as the Griffin. Sorry, but respect I have and happy memories of my own flying in the Wessex: it's had its day. It's way too expensive to operate and there are better options around.. .New toys: be happy!