Out of all of this I still don't see RAF Engineering having been asked to develop any in-house glider-repair expertise. That being the case, I very much fear we could well be back to the same situation in a few years time! Without at least some in-house technical expertise, how will the RAF be able to quality control/audit the quality of the new contractor's airworthinees work? How can they have the skills and experience to work on super-high tech complicated jets, yet apparently be completely foxed by very basic light aircraft technology?
It is this basic shortfall that seems to have led to the current situation having developed to the extent that two whole fleets having been grounded.
Imagine if an equivalent situation prevailed on the flying side (i.e. CFS and Syerston unable to check flying standards on the VGSs because "We have no expertise with gliders - we only deal things such as Tutors, helicopters, multi-engine and swept-wing jets")
Flug