Cap’n Pugwash
What an excellent post. As one who was intimately involved in both RN and RAF Harrier pilot training for the duration of JFH, ( and many years before that during the initial setting up of the SHAR force), I totally agree with you.
In particular:
“The RAF bent over backwards to allow RN aircrew through the system at a faster proportional rate than RAF aircrew. This was necessary because the RN had the added challenge of only being able to recruit against a demanding single seat role – failure rates were higher as a result. The RN even had to recruit ex-RAF aircrew who had failed to gain a single seat recommendation for Typhoon, thus seeing an opportunity to go single seat through the FAA.” (My italics)
And finally:
“The RAF did not stop FAA aircrew meeting their share of the Force – they couldn’t meet it.”