Portsharbourflyer,
The demise of the airframe industry is the reason there is a high percentage of British TPs & engineers in Flight Test on this side of the pond (including yours truly). Even over here there's probably three or four Avionics or engine update programs for every "new" airframe (and the majority of those simple - or not so simple - stretches). A common saying was "The British aircraft industry is alive & well and living in Wichita, KS".