wrote in message
...
Flight cancelled for this year - damage
to the balloon this morning while inflating
it (Sky News)

I thought it was all rather pathetic - the think appeared to spring a leak
as soon as they pumped any helium into it.

I hope the marketing genius and mangement experts who a. renamed the Royal
Aircraft Establishment/DERA (et al) as the appalling 'Qinetiq' and b.
decided to sponsor the effort, will feel that their investment has been
worthwhile. Now whenever the general public, not to mention possible users
of their services, hear the word Qinetiq the image of a sadly deflating
balloon will spring immediately to mind. To think our once great - even
though highly unprofitable - aviation industry has come to this, (exits
right, muttering).

Andrew

PS Glad that the forecast for this am was correct, however.