Look, I know this is all going a bit Fantasy Island. But if MoD was to buy the
P8 off the shelf at least there would be no shortage of pilots. I mean reservists would be able to keep current in their civvy jobs and not have to waste time and money at the tax payers expense. Also it might be possible that airframe and engine hangar maintenence could be contacted out to the civvy maintenence organisations with the relevent type approvals. Put them in a joint RN/RAF squadron as 360 was. (And I guess the harrier ones are, almost.)Then the submariners who retire and then join the RAF to sit in the back would not have to leave. Lets face it the Command organisation is already in place.
Of course there is the much cheaper option. A few years back when the 4's kit was being tested under "operational conditions" it was fitted in to a C47 that had been re engined with PT6s. That aircraft did not miss a serial through out the two weeks of the exercise.
Last edited by doubledolphins; 22nd Jul 2010 at 15:38.