Originally Posted by
ATFQ
A and C,
Should we now not be focusing on returning cadets to flying in the completely refurbished aircraft that we are now operating, albeit in relatively small but growing numbers. That first solos are again becoming the norm should at least be welcomed.
That might be pushing the definition of 'completely refurbished' - from what I've heard it's £100k plus per airframe including Southern Sailplanes cutting out and redoing undocumented repairs and an exercise to identify and document (but not fully repair) skin cracks. Now extrapolate that for the portion of the fleet that they aim to put through the process. Three years and counting, millions of pounds of public money spent and there's just a handful of aircraft with patchy servicability and precious few cadets airborne to show for it.