G'day Trimpot,
I'm pretty new to this after just one a brief go earlier in the year. Anyway, here's my two cents worth...
High Nr obviously dosn't like you, or your former company... and possibly civilians for that matter. But the fact is, for well over a decade they have been doing a reasonable job and the ADF have been happy to renew their contract - more than once - after a lengthy tendering process.
But to hopefully put his doubts to rest you could have informed him of the following:
1. PC-9 driver collapsed at the controls - transported to medical facility.
2. S2-11 driver ground loop on first dolo, gear collapse - transported to medical facility.
3. S2-11 driver hopped out in the circuit - transported to medical facility.
4. 2 x Macci midair hop out - transported to medical facility.
5. A-4 Skyhawk Indian ocean swimming lesson - transported to medical facility (close to 100nm from base - stetcher evacuated from water, in hospital 2 hrs after ejection).
6. USAF Hornet driver who used 'Willy' nitesun for emergency landing- very gratefull!
7. Survivors pulled from the water at night using autohover.
8. Countless seamen attended to by RAAF medical crews transported and winched by CHC RAAF rescue S76.
9 Numerous flood relief operations undertaken to 'assist the comunity' by RAAF assets operated by civilians.
10. RAAF assists to state police, etc. etc. etc...
Now although these arent all cases of 'repelling invaders' and 'saving assets' I would suggest that to the individuals concerned, the ADF's policy of having a cost-efective and state-of the-art autohover SAR bird is worth every penny.
Just my view, but as I said, probably not one shared by High Nr.
PS: How's the 'tent' sales going?