NaB - Not only are most of the C/Ds pretty well used, but you'll need a crowbar to prise the best frames from the grip of the Marines, who want every Classic they can get in order to keep squadrons flying while they wait for real numbers of JSF.
Because that's where the "off probation" thing was a joke: the biggest material bit of probation was the holding-down of production rates, and that hasn't changed.
Maybe the UK should buy some low-time, no-carrier-landing C/Ds from the Finns or Malaysians, who could then use the cash as down payment on some Supers...
Last edited by LowObservable; 13th Mar 2012 at 22:33.