ORAC,
True on the impact of the Saudi order - RB199 was a very sick puppy for a long time. I remember being ordered in 1994 to remove 25% of RN funds from Sea Harrier Pegasus engine support (already very very taut) to divert funds to RB199. We were promised a repayment the following year from RAF funds. (Just to set the record straight, we weren't being singled out - as I remember, similar demands were made on just about every aircraft engine support budget at the time).
Still waiting....
Great cartoon - made me larf. But I'd ask PPruners not to be too hard on the JPO al the time - they have got a lot of things right, and have been subject to a level of political and public oversight that would have crushed any DE&S PT by now. My dealings with them at Fort Worth were generally marked by mutual respect and lots of intelligent hard work from DC.
Best regards as ever to all those making a difference
Engines