The Viking to Vigilant and Vigilant to Viking conversion has been done before and there is a fairly well practised route for doing this, and involves support from ACCGS staff. The real issue is the headcount required to operate a Viking VGS compared to a Vigilant VGS. On paper the Vigi can operate with only 3 people whereas the Viking needs 5 or 6 and preferably 7 as a minimum. And the more Vikings that you have on the field the more people you need and more vehicles for retrieve etc. I'd almost say the curve is super-exponential. The Vigilant can continue to operate with the same number of support staff with only additional headcount going up by 1 per additional Vigilant.
The real issue is not just that of manpower and skillset, but the suitability of the site itself. Vigilants can operate from a conventional airfield setup (long and thin as many of our airfields are nowadays) and slot in with the traffic on the ground and in the air. The Viking can't. In the past many RAF sites have refused the presence of a Viking VGS because the are can't fit with the traffic of the station, or because the station doesn't want multiple runs of 2000' of cable laid out across the flying field, or is not willing to accept the risk of cables falling across parked aircraft or ground installations, or the fact that winch cable creates a FOD hazard for jet engines and rotors, and in addition they don't want the risk of relatively young and relatively self-supervised cadets out on the field.
Add to that the inconvenience of a largely weekend/silent hours operation and you struggle with sites that want to take the pain of a Viking VGS on. In the past stations have seen VGS as a bit of a pain and adding limited benefit to the life of a busy operational base, Since now the VGS is effectively a detachment of 2FTS that attitude may change but we will have to wait and see. Looking at the sites that are currently either a VGS or supposedly slotted to be one it looks like this IMHO;
Kenley - OK (not long and thin so offers options to adjust the circuit direction and launch run in crosswind conditions)
Upavon - OK (Long and thin and shared)
Wethersfield - OK (not long and thin so offers options to adjust the circuit direction and launch run in crosswind conditions)
Merrifield - Unknown quantity
Syerston - OK (not long and thin so offers options to adjust the circuit direction and launch run in crosswind conditions)
Little Rissington - OK (not long and thin so offers options to adjust the circuit direction and launch run in crosswind conditions)
Topcliffe - Potentially OK (not long and thin so offers options to adjust the circuit direction and launch run in crosswind conditions)
Predannack - OK (not long and thin so offers options to adjust the circuit direction and launch run in crosswind conditions)
Ternhill - OK (not long and thin so offers options to adjust the circuit direction and launch run in crosswind conditions)
Kirknewton OK (not long and thin so offers options to adjust the circuit direction and launch run in crosswind conditions)
Closed sites
RAF Manston - was ideal (now sold)
Hullavington - was ideal (now sold)
RM Condor - was ideal (now being sold)
RAF Honington - could provide suitable site but has busy airspace with USAF nearby
Abingdon Dalton Barracks - was ideal (now being sold)
RAF Halton - was ideal (now being sold)
RAF Henlow - some conflict with other users but being sold anyway
RAF Odiham - possible with some modifications
RMB Chivenor - possible with some modifications
RAF Cosford - possible with some modifications
MOD St. Athan - not really suitable due to developments on the airfield
Swansea Airport - not ideal due to other users
RAF Linton-on-Ouse - possible with some modifications, may get quieter in the future or be sold anyway
Watton Airifield - was ideal (now sold)
RAF Kinloss - possible with some modifications but future uncertain due to P8
Newtownards - not ideal due to size, shape and other users
Other MoD controlled available sites maybe
RAF Marham - busy with JSF
RAF Lossiemouth - busy with P8
Boscombe Down - Why not ?
RAF Brize Norton - Busy
RNAS Yeovilton - Could be a possible but some conflicting traffic
RNAS Culdrose - Could be a possible but some conflicting traffic
RNAS Wittering - Could be a possible but some conflicting traffic (Tutors)
RAF Mildenhall - Busy USAF
RAF Lakenheath - Busy USAF but not weekends
RAF Fairford - USAF but Why Not ?
RAF Shawbury - Close to Ternhill
AAC Middle Wallop - Why Not ?
AAC Wattisham - Already an RAFGSA site but Why not ?
AAC Dishforth - Closing
RAF Leeming - May become site for additional Typhoon Sqn
West Freugh - middle of nowhere......
RAF Cranwell - Why not ?
RAF Barkston Heath - Why not ?
All these assume funds (unlikely) and also ground equipment, aircraft and staff available)
So there you have it.....................................
Arclite