I've sent you a PM but, briefly, the CAA did allow me to upgrade from what was AFI to QFI early using about 30 hours of Air Cadet instructional time. That was early 90s so might have been pre JAA even. Good luck.
That's interesting -- many thanks.
In respect of the FI restriction removal I'm not convinced that the CAA actually needs any input from the military at all. If a VGS QGI has the appropriate civil licence and passes an FI AoC, it's then only a simple issue of whether VGS experience can be taken into account for the 100hr/25 solo requirement or not. And if not, why not?