A fun thread this.
Isn't part of the problem that the RAF allows and encourages an 'older' population than the army; and (Rocks aside) they never have been required to be a 'run-aroundy' group? Seems to me that if you want to send a 50 something pilot to war, and his job requires him (no old ladies yet?) to sit on his arse all day, then it makes no sense to use up his heartbeat allotment quicker than necessary. Dennis Leech used to get by, and when Steve Stevenson was crewman, no-one seemed to worry. Not much payload in that Puma though!
CG