Fareastdriver....
Congratulations on a fabulously detailed contribution - thanks. Such illustrious flying experience is welcomed esp as you agree with the main thrust of my post regarding the lack of volume in the 330 cabin (which adds credence to my post IMHO!). I assume therefore that you are saying that the current military modification to the Mk I is the only acceptable mod as the adding of plugs would lead to other problems?
In that case fair enough for the limited mod to the MkI, but I consider that although second hand Super Pumas would be more expensive they would have been a quantum leap in capacity and although dearer the £300M wasted on the MkI would have gone a long way to re-equiping with Super Pumas.
I would be interested if anyone has any knowledge of the costs of second hand Super Pumas...?.