Manston Airport : Possible Closure
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Coff, and as the army are wont to say....."time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted" 
Pity we don't have the capability we once had......and I'm not talking about MRA/Nimrod!!
MB
Pity we don't have the capability we once had......and I'm not talking about MRA/Nimrod!!
MB
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I was Manston's CAA Aerodrome Inspector from 2001 to 2010, so saw much of the development. I watched attentively as the airport grew from a bare bones former RAF Station, expanding into...well not much really. Various change of owners, a couple of not so low cost operators and the fluctuating freight traffic. But as has been observed, not enough people in the area (also imagine how vibrant and active Lydd would be just down the road) and poor rail and road links to anywhere. Even dualling the A299 did not help much (I assume it's been completed all the way to Ramsgate now).
Basically, there was not enough dosh around to develop/expand the airport, or in the pockets of potential passengers.
There were some interesting challemges on those developments that did take place, such as the Bravo Apron and Bravo taxiway link (to runway). Due diligence and planning revealed the the airfield had been seeded with "pipe bombs" during WWII to be detonated in the event it was overrun by the invading Hun in order to deny use of the field. Plans showed the location of 21 such bombs, the condition of which was assessed as highly unstable as the original explosive material had decayed/transmuted into a far more voaltile liquid form. Anyway, the offending articles were removed by gentlemen of the Royal Corps of Engineers prior to proper development digging commencing. Only snag was when the RE located bomb number 22...and no way of knowing if there were even more (original plans probably made up in a rush and not updated). Tough decision. The bullet was bit and they went ahead anyway, presumabnly with fingers stuck in ears
. I made sure I was far too busy elsewhere in England while this was going on.
Mister B
Basically, there was not enough dosh around to develop/expand the airport, or in the pockets of potential passengers.
There were some interesting challemges on those developments that did take place, such as the Bravo Apron and Bravo taxiway link (to runway). Due diligence and planning revealed the the airfield had been seeded with "pipe bombs" during WWII to be detonated in the event it was overrun by the invading Hun in order to deny use of the field. Plans showed the location of 21 such bombs, the condition of which was assessed as highly unstable as the original explosive material had decayed/transmuted into a far more voaltile liquid form. Anyway, the offending articles were removed by gentlemen of the Royal Corps of Engineers prior to proper development digging commencing. Only snag was when the RE located bomb number 22...and no way of knowing if there were even more (original plans probably made up in a rush and not updated). Tough decision. The bullet was bit and they went ahead anyway, presumabnly with fingers stuck in ears
. I made sure I was far too busy elsewhere in England while this was going on.Mister B
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Call in Boris?
Perhaps our London Mayor should dump his plans for an estuary airport and take on Manston?
Seriously though I just cannot see any civil airport making a commercial success that far East. The transport links are woeful and there is insufficient travel superstructure in place and population.
Mind you I don't know why Heathrow succeeds with such a lack of Westward train links, so what do I know?
Wasn't Manson the airport where FIDO was developed? I remember once reading about the job of lighting it which I believe was some asbestos skinned ground staff who drove around it holding a burning torch and lighting the jets from a Land Rover...............a job not to have :0)
Seriously though I just cannot see any civil airport making a commercial success that far East. The transport links are woeful and there is insufficient travel superstructure in place and population.
Mind you I don't know why Heathrow succeeds with such a lack of Westward train links, so what do I know?
Wasn't Manson the airport where FIDO was developed? I remember once reading about the job of lighting it which I believe was some asbestos skinned ground staff who drove around it holding a burning torch and lighting the jets from a Land Rover...............a job not to have :0)
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Andy ...
FIDO was installed at Manston (1944, last being used in 1958) but developed at Hartford Bridge Flats.
Manston Installation Schematic
Image Credit : RAF Manston History Museum
More detail about the Manston installation here ...
Manston FIDO
Apparently towards the end of its life, a full FIDO burn was costing around £44,500 ...
FIDO was installed at Manston (1944, last being used in 1958) but developed at Hartford Bridge Flats.
Manston Installation Schematic
Image Credit : RAF Manston History Museum
More detail about the Manston installation here ...
Manston FIDO
Apparently towards the end of its life, a full FIDO burn was costing around £44,500 ...
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Coffman thanks
It's hard to believe that there is so much documentation.
One think that makes me smile is that how close the sleeping headquarters were to the line, no cold barracks for the operators?
One think that makes me smile is that how close the sleeping headquarters were to the line, no cold barracks for the operators?
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My pleasure Andy
The location of the original tanks/road infrastructure, to the south of the main runway, can still be seen ... but the tanks visible in this Google Earth image are of modern design ... I think they were/are LPG but nothing to do with Jentex Ltd or the airfield anymore.
Image Credit : Google Earth 2014
The location of the original tanks/road infrastructure, to the south of the main runway, can still be seen ... but the tanks visible in this Google Earth image are of modern design ... I think they were/are LPG but nothing to do with Jentex Ltd or the airfield anymore.
Image Credit : Google Earth 2014
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For those interested ... The Manston Mirror (produced by the Manston Spitfire Museum) is worth a read
PDF Back-copies here ...
Manston Mirror | About The Trust | Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum Manston Kent
Very sad to note that Squadron Leader Paddy Brown passed away at the beginning of the year (Feb Edition) ... RIP Paddy.
PDF Back-copies here ...
Manston Mirror | About The Trust | Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum Manston Kent
Very sad to note that Squadron Leader Paddy Brown passed away at the beginning of the year (Feb Edition) ... RIP Paddy.
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Manston was where I flew for the first time with 1 AEF in 1976. I can still remember the Belfasts parked on the opposite side of the airfield, the chicken curry in the Airmen's mess on a Sunday lunchtime and lining up in the kitchen to get a fried egg straight from the pan at breakfast when we did a weekend camp there. The chef's assistant was apparently an ex-POW from during the Battle of Britain who stayed in the UK after the war. Might have been a tall tale but as I remember him, he would have been about the right age then.
Ninety odd glider launches from there as well. I visit what is left whenever I can when visiting Kent, its sad to see it going down the pan, although that said, communication links in north-east Kent are a lot better than they used to be and presumably can only get better.
Ninety odd glider launches from there as well. I visit what is left whenever I can when visiting Kent, its sad to see it going down the pan, although that said, communication links in north-east Kent are a lot better than they used to be and presumably can only get better.
Some of the development work for FIDO was carried out in one of the reservoirs near what is now Heathrow, I think Queen Mary. I remember my dad telling me he was one of the firemen sent there as safety fire cover
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Fairly sure BA diverted an A320 into Manston one morning last week when there was a bit of fog around LHR. Remember landing there in my youth in a puddle jumper and losing depth perception in the roundout due to the width of the threshold and surrounding hard surface.....of course, I went around from that one 
.
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Mid 80's I was at Middle Wallop as a QHI on Advanced Rotary Squadron. Just approaching Christmas we were due to take our students to Germany as a famil towards the end of the course.
Just before departure from MW our boss gave us a "Gypsy's Warning" that if were caught bringing back any duty-free over the limit we be severely dealt with etc.
We all duly screwed the nut so we approached Manston with a clean conscience and on arrival sure enough the Customs guys were waiting by VASS in their L a n d r o v e r. As out engines ran down to silence one of the Customs guys wound down his window, shouted "Merry Christmas" and they buggered off!
Oh how we laughed...
Just before departure from MW our boss gave us a "Gypsy's Warning" that if were caught bringing back any duty-free over the limit we be severely dealt with etc.
We all duly screwed the nut so we approached Manston with a clean conscience and on arrival sure enough the Customs guys were waiting by VASS in their L a n d r o v e r. As out engines ran down to silence one of the Customs guys wound down his window, shouted "Merry Christmas" and they buggered off!
Oh how we laughed...
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We tried to beat the Americans to Manston Customs as they had several UH1's and a few AH1's.... Sadly they got there first (Wessex lol) so we expected a long wait... Out comes about 10 Customs and the top neddy informs us he has a class of trainees and can they blitz the Wessex.... Gulp. Crewman has an extra bottle in his kit bag and is shaking like a Jelly.... Sprog Customs chap pulls out two bottles from his bag asks who's are these? Crewman says nervously mine... Sprog Customs says thanks, and pops them back in bag without realising he had two. 
I have seen several times over the years, a practice engine failure after take off by a flying school aircraft. The instructor clears it with the tower first of course. After the aircraft has landed there is still plenty of room to take off again.
mmitch.
mmitch.
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By way of an update for those interested in the old place ...
More here ...
Kent-on-Line : Manston Formal Offer Made
Express & Star : Manston Formal Offer
But there still needs to be a willing seller it would seem ...
Coff.
An offer has been made to buy Manston Airport and keep it as a working air hub. The move was revealed by North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale who made the announcement yesterday (4th May 2014).
"It's reputable and it's an American company, and I believe it has the resources necessary to buy, and not only to buy, but to run the airport because that's important as well."
Kent-on-Line : Manston Formal Offer Made
Express & Star : Manston Formal Offer
But there still needs to be a willing seller it would seem ...
Coff.
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Coff
I hate to say this, but I've seen it all before - change of ownership, that is. The prospective new owner may have a load of money to throw at developing the site, but the harsh reality is that the road/rail transport infrastructure is not good. And the pool of potential passengers still remains low (even with the occasional fly/cruise ship packages). The freight option also seems to have dwindled - and it was a slick operation in its heyday; any potential major increase in freight traffic will be subject to the poor road links to the west (even though they are somewhat improved in the last 5-10 years).
So wish them luck, but due diligence on the part of the purchaser may reveal an unpalatable cost/benefit outcome.
Mister B
I hate to say this, but I've seen it all before - change of ownership, that is. The prospective new owner may have a load of money to throw at developing the site, but the harsh reality is that the road/rail transport infrastructure is not good. And the pool of potential passengers still remains low (even with the occasional fly/cruise ship packages). The freight option also seems to have dwindled - and it was a slick operation in its heyday; any potential major increase in freight traffic will be subject to the poor road links to the west (even though they are somewhat improved in the last 5-10 years).
So wish them luck, but due diligence on the part of the purchaser may reveal an unpalatable cost/benefit outcome.
Mister B
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I sadly agree with you Mister B 
PS ... And the latest "offer" has now been rejected ...
The Courier : Manston Offer Rejected
PS ... And the latest "offer" has now been rejected ...
The Courier : Manston Offer Rejected
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 5th May 2014 at 18:00.
I had a happy 6 months holding at Manston waiting for an OCU Cse in the late 90s. There were only 10-12 livers in, so often we'd have a "whole mess dinner" in the middle of the week where there were almost as many staff as members! I can remember playing cricket and asking the bowler to wait as an An124 taxied behind him.....the pitch was effectively on the airfield.
It's probably the only station I've been at where the locals were desperate for the unit to expand and get busier; I think they were dismayed when 202 left. Sadly I feel the shareholders see a West Malling future as already mentioned....
It's probably the only station I've been at where the locals were desperate for the unit to expand and get busier; I think they were dismayed when 202 left. Sadly I feel the shareholders see a West Malling future as already mentioned....
I spent some time flying live stock out of Manston in 1975/6 with G-AOVF or G-AOVS when they were owned by IAS - happy memories of staying in the Pegwell Bay Hotel!
We are off to Malpensa (Milan) in VS - yet again. Photo taken by a tame customs man Mar 1976.
We are off to Malpensa (Milan) in VS - yet again. Photo taken by a tame customs man Mar 1976.
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Sad to say the last nail has been banged into the coffin..
15th of May is the final date
BBC News - Kent's Manston Airport to close on 15 May
15th of May is the final date
BBC News - Kent's Manston Airport to close on 15 May
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There was a large protest yesterday evening at Manston against the closure plans. It was covered by the local ITV News which included an interview with Mark Girdler MD T G Aviation (Ted's Son).
Video clip here ...
ITV News Manston Closure
Apparently the US firm, RiverOak Investments, is still interested in purchasing the airport as a going concern ... but the cynic in me says that in the medium term they might have the same commercial objectives as Gloag
Video clip here ...
ITV News Manston Closure
Apparently the US firm, RiverOak Investments, is still interested in purchasing the airport as a going concern ... but the cynic in me says that in the medium term they might have the same commercial objectives as Gloag
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 10th May 2014 at 13:52.