78 Sqn disband - what next for RAF Benson?

[golamv]

Another squadron bits the dust - 78 Sqn disband ? FighterControl ? Home to the Military Aviation Enthusiast (http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=287&p=656545)


What does the future hold for RAF Benson?

[The Helpful Stacker]

What does the future hold for RAF Benson?

Puma HC2 and some (14?) new Chinooks.

[Martin the Martian]

28(AC) to convert to the HC.6?

[fairflyer]

Seeing as everyone is sitting on their backsides, unable to make any decision on LHR's third runway, perhaps they open up the can of worms again and look at plonking another Heathrow-sized airport slap bang between Chalgrove and Benson, joining those two with the new two runways in the middle making up a four runway hub, just 29 miles from Heathrow, and importantly, the right side of London.

Could argue that it would upset the least amount of people (aside from Watlington and Wallingford residents) for any new build airport (3 mile by 2 mile block of land) in the north west quadrant within 30 miles or so outside of greater London.

Chalgrove and Benson strips take the regional airline services and the two new runways in the middle, the long-haul. Link with the HS2 line beyond Chinnor, big roads to junctions 6 and 7 on the M40, job done.

Pipe-dream, but has lots of merit on lots of fronts - environmentally more acceptable than current Heathrow, the right side of London, not so far from London.

Establish a maglev connection to the city at up to 300 mph and it all starts to look good. Just need about £30 billion or so.....

If none of that works, wait for the MOD to sell off Benson to developers and we'll establish a nice little regional airport 30 mins from the M25.

[Evalu8ter]

Benson's immediate future is secure. Two Puma sqns (33 & 230) and the recently stood up 28(R) as the Puma/Chinook OCU. Throw in the Simulator complex, R&S Wing and the UAS/AEF and it's still a busy place.

Next big change might occur at Puma OSD and/or a change in simulation philosophy.

[Haart]

What chance of a JHC base rationalisation? A starter for 10: Benson, Odiham, Middle Wallop - choose 2 you want to keep?

[stewyb]

Haart

This was put to bed some years back after Project Belvedere was shut down when looking at RAF Lyneham as a solution. Costs were exorbitant to relocate all units and therefore Benson and Odiham remained. As suggested, with Puma/Chinook & OCU at Benson and Chinook with the addition of Mk6 now delivered to Odiham, I can't see any changes for the foreseeable future. Odiham is also having investment made in new accommodation blocks and a Mk6 training centre with simulators. Not up to speed with Middle Wallop however and maybe somebody can update!

[Roland Pulfrew]

Haart Odiham is also having investment made in new accommodation blocks and a Mk6 training centre with simulators.

Oh dear :(

[Al R]

Ho ho. Someone won't be happy.

http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/547082-raf-benson-sshhhh.html

[andyy]

Ff, I used to have similar thoughts about Wyton and Alconbury as a suitable joint location for a major UK airport to serve the needs of London, the Midlands and E Anglia. But equally fanciful.