Just picking up on VX 275 and the 'deluded movers' remark. When we used to go on Nato exercise with our new 'K's the host nation would turn up with -463L pallets aready loaded for a quick turn round. Unfortunately they could not be secured into the RAF Skydel system at that time. No quick turnround as everything had to be txferred to the RAF pallets.. Several years later adaptors were made so as to allow RAF Hercs to carry these. So if it was the 'movers ' who wanted the Brookes and Perkins -4 for the J it is perhaps understandable. They can hardly be blamed for Lockheed's poor workmanship once the much delayed J had arrived at Lyneham .
I think the real moving force behind the -4 selection would most likely to have been a 'beancounter' somewhere in MOD. And no I was not a mover, I just try to keep an open mind.