Hi Sargs,
The 51 Squadron ORB saysthat: Sqn Ldr Dicks left on the 24th (May) to join a Boscombe Down Nimrod Landing trial in California). I haven't yet had the pleasure of speaking with Ted Dicks, but another 51 Squadron chap confirmed your view:
"MOD made the mistake of asking Boscombe Down to flight check the mat’s viability, even though we said we should do it as it needed experienced pilots. The Test Pilots screwed it up and rolled up the mat, by landing incorrectly. The Nimrod could be difficult to land without practice, due to the large trim change with full flap. Get it wrong and it could be dropped in, which I believe is what happened. It needed a smooth approach to the mat, not to be dropped on to it. They then had the gall to say that it couldn't be done. So we were denied an opportunity there. I remember being pretty cross at the time."