Glad Rag,
Sorry, not protestations - just statements of fact. I will, and gladly, agree that the Navy contributed by their inaction - they had a chance to get in the trench and play the resignations card. They passed it up. Bad error.
The worst effect was that, at a stroke, it undermined the rationale of JOINT Force Harrier, which was to bring two complementary capabilities together in a Joint setting and encourage experimentation and convergence. There was much to be learnt on both sides, but once the SHAR was 'canned', the drive to do that was taken away. A great shame for both the RAF and the RN.
Fully, and again gladly, agree that retention of core carrier skills is a 'must have'. If that's not done. and it now looks as if it won't, regeneration of the new skill set needed for operating the F-35C will be a massive challenge, and will have to be properly funded - it won't be cheap. A few aircrew exchanges with the US and France won't crack it either.
Best Regards as ever
Engines