@ Stopstart
Agreed that RAF AT is highly stressed, but as for "immediate" relief by means of C-17 or C-130, I seriously wonder what the lead time would be for either of these aircraft. They aren't exactly stacked at the dealers while customers wait for a new "cash for clunkers " scheme.
BTW, I'm having a private "contest" about whether the A400 will fly before the 787 - not that that would bring entry into effective service all that much closer !
