Why are co-pilots?. (a) Because they just out of training and therefore inexperienced. (b) Because they are making a major role change and therefore inexperienced but should make LHS fairly quickly. (c) I can say this being well retired. Because they are not very good.
What then is the advantage to the RAF in making them LHS qualified early in their tour?. Very little bar a morale element, they always have to fly with a qualified captain. What advantage is there to the individual?. 1st pilot hours, but is it not deceitful to count them as such and could the CAA not accuse the RAF of fraud?.
The LHS is a reward to be earned, not given away in the style of modern education. The V force ICC may well have been an over heavyweight means to achieve an end but its placing within a tour was an appropriate measure of an individuals ability and value to the service.
Oh, Beags, sorry but the Valiant was also LHS steering only and well on the left so unreachable from the right.