CD nighthawk: I question not the integrity of this might battleship. A colleague of mine crashed one during trials one night, straight into the sea at 90kts and escaped without a bruise
What I will question is this: how can anyone, even the military, justify spending upwards of 40 million pounds on one airframe when there are several others out there that are atleast as capable as the Merlin in every respect, that cost less than a quarter of this?
Massively over redundant systems, prohibitive carbon fibre repair procedures, hugely inflated repair down times for every hour airborne and ask the Canuks about spares
People who even consider the 101 need their heads seeing to or are sublimely rich...