DZ, my abiding impression of the RAF, past, present and future, is that it effectively exists at unit and station level only. That is where its work is done, that is where its commanders are. Above that level it is a bureaucracy manned by apparatchiks, be they SOs or Air Officers. They do not command they manage, despite their grandiose titles. As wuh says himself, their job is to do the bidding of their masters, the politicians. With titles like CinC etc you'd think that their job was to look after their subordinates, and ensure that they are properly provided for, but it seems that is not so. Common sense, DZ? You're having a laugh aren't you?