RLE:
Why the hell does anyone think it's different for VSOs?
Because certain VSOs post 1987 set in chain the course of events described above by Tuc.
An incredibly stupid policy resulted in a sky rocketing deficit in the Defence Budget.
A further incredibly stupid policy was devised to claw back the deficit by slashing time and money spent on airworthiness provision (as mandated by the Regulations). Engineers with Airworthiness Delegation resisted and even disobeyed illegal orders from VSOs to suborn the Regulations.
A further incredibly stupid policy meant they were replaced by junior administrators.
Despite being urged by Boscombe Down to ground its newly and illegally released to service Chinook HC2s, the RAF instead sent 26 VIPs up in what was then known to be a Grossly Unairworthy aircraft. It crashed killing all 29 on board.
A further incredibly stupid act was to find the two deceased pilots Grossly Negligent with no proof whatsoever. That finding by 2 VSOs was upheld by other VSOs for the next 17 years. The RAF High Command has still not accepted the action of the SoS in overturning that finding, talking still of the pilots flying in cloud below SA into terrain, still with no proof.
That is why VSOs are different, because of incredibly stupid policies and decisions which would discredit them all if it emerged. Their trouble is that it has emerged. They are all discredited. That is what makes them different!