#AVIATION | This is posted to provide clarity. Not to defend or attack the event.

• The repainting of the RAF Airbus (PM and Royal Transport) was planned many months ago;
• It was planned to coincide with the hangaring of the aircraft for milestone heavy maintenance; 1/5

#AVIATION | Clarity

• All aircraft undergo periodic maintenance. From light to heavily invasive. This was medium-heavy maintenance;
• The reported £900k cost is the cost of hangaring, maintenance and repainting. Not the cost of repainting only. 2/5

#AVIATION | Clarity

• The graphic design, approval process and stenciling creation process alone would take several months;
• The final design and other options would require RAF, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace review/input, as the aircraft will be used by all. 3/5

#AVIATION | Clarity

• I understand why people are displeased. But the maintenance was planned many months ago prior to Covid;
• The aircraft still had to go in for maintenance (think of it like a mandatory MOT) whether it was being repainted or not;
• 4/5

#AVIATION | Clarity

• Some heavy maintenance requires the external paint to be removed anyway. So, POSSIBLY in this case, the aircraft would have to be repainted anyway;
• In which case, best to do the new livery now and avoid duplicating time and cost in doing it later.