Hi Whipper. Yeah fair comment, the RAF is under funded and stretched. But where does their funding come from. How many billions will be lost in tax collections over this period. I am sure they can risk a couple of Tornado engines. And its only that, a risk, its not certain that they would go up and wreck some engines. I have not caught up with other posts, but before someone has a go for risking a RAF pilots life......they are big boys and gals, when they signed on the knew they would be doing dangerous things. Trust me the nations finest take much bigger risks in Afganistan on a daily basis than what they would face on a jolly over Scotland.
I was briefly in the RAF, and that was not what I signed on to do. I signed on to fight for the nation's defence, but not to risk my life for the economic convenience of the airlines. Your "disposable" attitude to the armed forces is rather insulting, but sadly also common. However, if you had the slightest clue of the resources issues in the services, you would soon understand that the RAF cannot afford to risk the loss of a Tornado, or other aircraft, that would not be replaced because of budget cuts which are set to increase dramatically, and the crew should not be risked either. You may think that the aircraft may just suffer engine damage, but what if things go wrong on landing the crippled aircraft? The crew might be able to eject, but that's hardly low-risk.
More significantly, what do you propose they do with the Tornado? Just fly around aimlessly until things go wrong? There are no sensor pods or sample collectors that could be fitted, so nothing scientific would be gained from your disposal of critical military assets.