A couple of points here.......
BEags
A nice thought, but, the majority of 'airships' at the top these days are wokka types with only a recent operational background in the North West Frontier!
The fall from grace of the Fast Jet jockey since we went back to the sandpit after '91 has been damaging top-end capability ever since we let a kipper mate in to run 11Gp.
Sorry mate - but the MFTS programme was going a long, long way before a wokka mate woke up and found himself wearing the daddy pants. Ergo - your statement [in this context] is hoop.
Secondly, the RW element was still in full swing as I left; Ascent were advertising for some very, very highly qualified and uniquely experienced individuals. Unfortunately, HR seemed to have mixed the offered salary with jobseekers allowance. I guessed those interested were expected to fund their employment from their service pension.
Pay peanuts - get monkeys.... et voila!