I am sick of hearing from politicians that the UK has a world class aero industry, yet cannot afford to go it alone in aircraft production........Only for me to see apparently poorer nations build top rate aircraft such as Rafale
Here, here , truer words where never spoken.
The UK still can redeem themselves, there still is a lot of knowledge and skill
to get fully back into the market, be it on their own or (fully re-)linked up with the German/French/Spanish Airbus-Eurocopter adventure.
But all of it can disappear after this generation in the next 20years, there are plenty of other nations that want to step into the UK's shoes.
This industry doesn't need to suffer the same faith as your former automotive industry.
PS; BAe's decision to sell their stake in Airbus was questionable bordering idiotic to say the least.