Chugaz
I find it interesting that you concentrate on their alleged negligence, oh sorry you call it pilot error don't you, though seemingly accepting the RAF's version nonetheless, while ignoring the alleged Gross Negligence of Very Senior Officers. Default selection cutting in again is it?
That is not fair, and you know it. I have always been against the "Gross" negligence verdict - but I do find it amazing that they apparently accepted, and flew, in an aircraft that they were unhappy with - for whatever reason. Pressure from above? Lack of gumption to say "no way"? Who knows.
Never in my time did I ever accept an aircraft that I was worried about. Why did they? They patently were worried about it, for why did they ask for a Mk 1?
I ask again - did this Mark 2 have the ability to fly itself into a nearby lump of rock without the pilots
having any input whatsoever?
It is not the only aircraft in the world with FADEC or equivalent systems in place.