I maintained seats at Gutersloh in the late 80s. One day a seat due annual arrived in the bay. Seat 21. In was in a very sorry state with most of the paint missing from the seat pan.
I stripped the seat (maybe a little too far for 2nd line) and sent it to be repainted. On return it took some time to reassemble but once done it was pristine.
It stood in the corner in show room condition with instruction not to issue.
I went on leave but phoned the bay on some other business only to be told that seat 21 had been issued and not only that the aircraft, 3 sqdn I think, had crashed!!!
The pilot had ejected safely and he was extremely grateful.
