Many years ago, when Walter Wessex was Queen of the skies, I was asked by a member of the House of Lords Defence Study Group why we needed a navigator to operate the hoist, and if the pilot couldn't see downwards why didn't 'they' just fit a glass bottom to the aircraft? When I pointed out that the engines might obscure the view he helpfully suggested that they could be positioned 'down the back'! He was led away to the mess bar by another Lord - seems some things just don't change
