On the selection issue, the irony is that Sean's intake year was more "diverse" than preceding years because it was the first for a while that wasn't dominated by ex-creamie QFIs of a particular vintage. It even included 2 GR4 pilots! The suggestion of cliqueyness in selection over the preceding period is particularly uncomfortable reading because both the Crete and Bournemouth accidents can be cast in the light of 'risky shift' in a closed-shop elite. I wonder how much significance will be attached to the fact that Red 1 for the period in question had been promoted directly from the team and had not spent time away as per the current incumbent.
It saddens me that the display flying world is still battling these issues many years on from Kemble, Ramstein, Fairchild, Elmendorf... one would have thought that enough case studies existed by now
