Quite apart from the good Doctor's failure to fall on his sword the thing that grates is the whole "The People's Aircraft" statement. In fact it is now mortgaged to both Marshalls and Whalton's company from memory meaning it's been hocked off twice over.
Andrew.... you've forgotton the third and largest one.. the HLF...to whome the aircraft, actually is mortgaged legally and always has been.... plus it's Walton's not Whalton's.