NoVANav,
Many thanks for that - helpful. RIP RIVET AMBER.
But I'm still at a loss why the RAF can't / won't read across the USAF's RC-135 clearance. Given the insanity of things over here at the moment, we could be offering the USAF a deal of three new RC-135s.... our munificence doesn't just extend to the USMC and cheap Harriers, you know....!
(Ok, I don't actually think that we'll bin the RJs - not even we're that stupid.)
S41