LJ
"Fair point, but I guess that SoS Def, the Defence Council, Chf Def Materiel or DFlying (or whatever the post is called these days?) hadn't wanted to take the risk to go to Fairford/Farnborough either?"
It was nothing to do with any of these people not being prepared to take a risk. The paperwork process was not completed in time to allow the aircraft to participate (as it had the year before). No FAC, no fly, period, don't matter who you are. The FAC was signed about 2 weeks later, hence the aircraft got airborne.
MOA
You're right, I just can't help myself!