Interesting. In the 2 years since I left the RAF, the Service has shrunk, particularly in the training system and I feel this will take some recuperation. Recruiting is ongoing but numbers are scarily small. Some new aircraft are entering or about to enter service but these are few at present. Regarding the concept of military aviation; it will, I believe, remain a crucial part of future warfare and peacekeeping by nation states that can afford it but “wars of choice” will be interesting given recent campaigns. Military operations can be simply described as the product of a nation turning wealth into kinetic energy. Such energy production unfortunately takes much blood and treasure and, to quote the Chinese saying, “if the campaign is long, then the coffers will be empty.” One more quote from those who live on the other side of the North West Frontier, “You westerners have all the clocks, but we have all the time.”