Staying airborne

摘要

TO FLY in one of the Royal Air Force planes that ferry ministers about the world is to experience a corner of old, imperial Britain. Under a framed black-and-white picture of Balmoral Castle, uniformed pursers serve afternoon tea. A neat pile of tweed blankets sits in a basket, the seats and carpet are a faded royal blue and the wooden trim bears the queen's cipher ("EIIR") in swirly let-ters. A photo of the plane somewhere in the Middle East illustrates the safety leaflets. Like the inside of Downing Street, it has the grand-shabby air of a posh hotel that has seen better days. The jet shudders and creaks through the air. Downton Abbey with jet engines attached.