bvcu:
Think we can safely say this is an industry problem,
In my view it is a regulation problem, and very unsafe. Your analysis of the problems of maintaining and operating "legacy" aircraft is, I am sure, quite correct. It is one of the reasons that "legacy" aircraft tend to be shunted off the Civil Register where there is effective Airworthiness enforcement. In the case of the MOD that condition does not apply. It is not in anyone's legal discretion to determine by how much Airworthiness Regulations should be enforced. They must be fully enforced at all times. In the case of UK Military Aviation this can only be done by a stand alone independent Military Airworthiness Authority.