Unlike the last post on manpower this report using FOI found the RAF aircraft fleet is short of planes ready to fly:
...142 of 434 of the air force’s planes have been sidelined....Out of 60 Chinook helicopters, 19 are down, while only seven of 23 Pumas are operational
The official response:
The sustainment fleet includes aircraft undergoing maintenance, upgrade programs or being held in storage....Modern military aircraft are highly complex machines that require careful management and maintenance to ensure they are fit for service and in sufficient numbers to fulfil tasks we call upon them to complete.
Link to original UK story:https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...orage-13803563 and to a US follow-on which is very slightly different:https://nationalinterest.org/blog/bu...%99t-fly-41527