ET,
"think 50 flights proves very little"
How many flights would it take?

"and that sooner than later, there would have been some sort of structural failure"
Gordon is criticized for not doing structural analysis, what type of data do you or others have to predict how many cycles, hours, flights, or the parameter of your choice, that will lead to failure? You may be right that it could've failed at some point, all we know for sure is the failure point is beyond 50 flights.

"but have you noticed they would not approve a third one? What does that say to you?"
Says nothing to me, I wouldn't have built the second one, but that's just me. I never build the same model twice; once I've done it it's time to move on to bigger and better things, but obviously many modelers feel otherwise. I know nothing about the legal system in the UK, maybe the LMA was covering their collective butts; I have no idea why they wouldn't sanction another one, or why Gordon would want to build a third one. You'd have to ask LMA on the first part and Gordon on the second part.
BRG,
Jon