NutLoose
Perhaps a guarantee they would address the manning issues rather an wasting monies on paint.
Exactly what I said Fox, with the best will in the world, and to be honest I always thought they were under recognised and seen as a necessary evil.... been there, seen it, read it and got the teeshirt .
Personally I think each pilot should be spend at least week in a hangar each year to appreciate the work involved in generating a jet..... The end of the day, YOUR life is in their hands, no one else's, you can have the most reliable, safe aircraft in the world, but under service it or skimp on the support and it's your life your putting on the line
In my service career I had one episode I remember vividly, I was prepping a Jet off to Gib from Deci for a weekend on the piss with several others, it had a hyd leak dripping from a door, I had it checked by an A/F Chief that said it's ok.
On start up I checked it again, drip was worse and fresh, so I signalled him to shut down as the rest departed, I was then confronted by a pilot throwing his helmet on the floor and a tirade of verbal abuse, If I wasn't in the Airforce he would have been sh*tting teeth for a week! but I stood my ground and said no, eventually the door was opened and he was informed the jet wouldn't have got there... Never really got a proper apology, no "Good Show" certificate etc, not that I was interested having already having some, BUT he knew I had probably saved his life, and HE KNEW IT, you could we it in his face everytime we saw each other .
Through out my 35 years plus as an aircraft engineer, I have always worked to one standard, "would I let my Mum Fly in it?" If that answer was no or I was unsure, it stayed on Terra Firma until I would.