ignoring reality will often help solve difficult problems
Which realty are you talking of? Is it the CAS/RAF reality of ostrich head in the sand or the reality of being told to get on with it?
"Off you go to war in Falklands/Bosnia/Kosovo/Sierra Leone/Gulf/Afghanistan/Libya"
"OK, Sir no problem. How many years for Sir? Lots of aircraft, Sir?"
or
"Transfer Merlin Mk 3 to the Junglies, old chap"
"Ooh. That's very difficult, Sir. Lots of problems with that one, Sir. Doesn't match our Trenchard policy, Sir. Is that a lawful order, Sir?"
"XXX!!!$$%%!"