Interesting post, Dark Helmet. Didn't realise in all those years I flew the Toom how much enjoyment the groundcrew got out of the job - I always got the impression that it was a bitch to service but perhaps that was the stock excuse for late rectification work!
It was certainly a challenging aircraft to fly well in all its' roles and air-to-air with the fixed sight in the C model was a classic case where only seaman's eye worked although the stick and rudders had to be stirred a bit during the burst to guarantee a hit on the dart. Bombing, rocketing and strafe with the fixed depressable sight also needed lots of skill (and a bit of luck) and in those days a good score was more to do with the crew than the kit.
A radar that showed raw plots in relative velocity also gave the crew a challenge in interpretation. Todays' picture giving range, aspect and TCA leaves little excuse for screwing up an intercept.
A mans' aeroplane - sorry girls but you didn't fly Tooms.