Visited Brough in 1969 and saw Buccs being built and was gob-smacked at the size of the main spar - carved from solid, by the look of it. I reckoned that the aircraft would last forever, so I was stunned when they were all grounded with cracks back whenever it was. As an F-4 jock in RAFG, the only aircraft that ever flew below us (as in right underneath) were the Buccaneers. I understand, though, that the cockpit was as much an ergonomic mess as the rest of the RAF's inventory. In the 70s a Bucc came off Nordhorn range and was joining up sharpish with his leader. As they got close the nav, with impeccable timing, shouted for a fuel check, so the pilot responded instinctively. I believe that the fuel gauge was somewhere up the pilots armpit with no repeater in the back cockpit....... Fortunately both aircraft survived the collision.