JN & Nozzles,
Thank you - makes sense (although it is rather depressing).
Growbag,
Y'know, I'd not thought of it quite like that - why not save the costs of retaining the SHAR until 2006 (albeit in declining numbers) and transition to the 4-squadron GR7/9 force more swiftly? From a beancounting pov it would be sensible. I suppose the answer lies in the fact that common sense hasn't been allowed to play any part in retiring the SHAR...