Lordy lord. There is so much wrong here. Headlines:
Confusion over DH responsibilities
Process 'holes' - numerous
Contractural weaknesses/ignorance
Sub-Sub-Sub- contracting (nothing new there)
Civilian Airworthiness (not just MoD/QinetiQ oversight)
Permit to Fly rather than CofA - no exemption from CAA to undertake specified activity (breech of ANO)
Ignorance within QinetiQ regarding PtF vs. CofA
Aircraft/pilot Insurance
A 24 year-old engine that had never been overhauled
Rear seat PIC did not have engine MAP or serviceable RPM gauge.
Numerous other unserviceable instruments
Questionable (by MoD standards) pilot currency/competency.
Inadequate pre-flight crew brief
Incorrect ARTM (Aviation Task Risk Matrix)
Shortened timeline - rushing
We've now arrived at the aircraft!
One other morsel:
The PIC was sitting on a high visibility jacket that had been borrowed from the Contractor as a booster cushion
FFS.
We need to ask ourselves why this could happen under the gaze of the world's premier Test Pilot School