US controller to RAF Aircraft exiting Oceanic control:
"Say your aircraft type"
"Military 4-piston twin jet"
"I say again, say your aircraft type"
"Military 4-piston twin jet."
"What the hell is that?" How many engines have you got? How many propellors?"
"4 Piston engines, 8 propellors, 2 jet engines."
Long pause
"Each piston engine has 2 propellors. One goes one way round, the other goes the other way around. - And we've got 2 jet engines."
"Well if you've got one propellor going one way round and another going the other way around - You go nowhere!"
Then somebody who knew a bit came on the line: "Ah haa! You're a Royal Air Force Shack-le-Ton!"
Problem solved.