IO540,
I fail to see how the place of registration is relevant for VAT purposes. If you trade in the UK with a VATable activity, and your turnover goes over the statuatory limits, you have to register.
No use claiming you are based outside the EU, it's irrelevant. If you are trading withing the UK with a VATable activity, and your turnover goes over the limits, you are legally obliged to register. Otherwise it distorts competition.
Imagine two firms commerically renting planes to PPL's. They are doing so commerically, and making a profit. Their turnover goes over the statuatory limits.
One company has it's planes on the G reg, and the other on the F reg, but both planes spend 100% of their time in the UK.
Do you really think the Inland Revenue would accept that the company on the F reg didn't have to charge it's customer VAT, while the one on the G reg did?
The only question, which will be a matter of fact in each case, will be whether the activity is VATable or not. The place of registration is largely irrelevant, in my opinion.