Ba££$! Why does it need a KwintyKwoo bunch to trail the centre-line hose of a VC10K in front of a C130J when the latter is the only ac involved in the 'trial'?
Back when the VC10K3 was entering service, it only had clearance to refuel Nimrods and F4s. Other trials had been successfully completed, but, as ever, Les Girls de Boscum were months behind with the paperwork.
One day we were involved in acting as tanker (in a K3) to another K3 as Les Girls were doing yet another trial. Funny old thing - we were allowed to fly the 'trials' tanker - presumably because the trial was taking place over Devon and not the USA!!
Trial completed - along comes a Boscum Buccaneer after some fuel. "Err - we're not qualified to act as tanker" quoth Les Girls, "Can you give the Bucc some fuel?".
Whereupon I had great pleasure in replying "We know that a Buccaneer can refuel safely from a K3 and we don't doubt that its pilot is properly qualified. But despite the time which has passed since the trial took place, regrettably A Certain Trials Organisation still hasn't progressed the paperwork to give us the appropriate release to service, so sorry, but no we won't!"
Funny old thing - within a day or two the clearance was received. Boss thought it was hilarious!!