Dangermouse,
You are barking up the wrong tree.
Suffolk happens to be the home of a large British Army helicopter base, including a well established maintenance facility.
RB is most probably an ex or soon-to-be ex military aircraft technician who has embarked on a degree course to enhance his civilian job prospects. He is using the Apache as his subject airframe as that is the type that he has experience of.
RB, you wouldn't happen to be REME 'Ronnie' Barker, about 40, used to be big into motorbikes?