Surplus, that is a lot of time and a lot of duty done. Thank you. As a mere trucker, I for one know the importance to this nation of Maritime Air, and that we will surely have dire need of it again and probably sooner rather than later. Why did we ever lose it? I think that someone should square up to dervish's point made above:-
The capability was lost because of something that emerged far more recently
That is the elephant in the room. That is what the Royal Air Force must confront before it loses anymore of its capability. As long as we remain separately Truckers, FJ's, AARs, wets, or whatever, we can squabble amongst ourselves to no avail. We have to confront the elephant and hobble it before it rampages further. That will not be welcome news to the RAF High Command that first let it in and would rather you carried on ignoring it. Will you?