One of our staff pilots at Strad told of his trips to Castle Bromwich at weekend in a Meatbox with the occasional runway excursion on a wet runway.
I think the RAF stopped the practice of flying for your flying pay as it was deemed refresher training was more economical and effective. End of the 50s and the reduction of hundreds of jets to more complex ones?
Back in the 90s wasn't it when they reinstated the rule - fly for your pay - but only in a flying related post etc?
Staff to Sqn ratios would have been very low. I wonder what the ratio is today?