Originally Posted by
andrewn
This has definitely been the strong rumour for some time, so no surprises there. The inclusion of Waddington and Leeming into the mix is interesting, but I suspect is nothing more than an attempt at making it look like a transparent process is being worked through.
Waddington has been rejected previously and would, you assume, still require the existing R313 - which kind of defeats the object of the exercise if, as suspected, Scampton is to be turned into the latest ToyTown housing estate.
Leeming has the T1 co-basing advantages, but not a lot else going for it, with the A1 proximity making Leeming itself unsuitable for practices and no other obvious candidate aerodromes under MoD control.
We shall see, of course...
Does Cottesmore or Wiittering have the necessary support services now? ATC, Fire & Rescue, Fuel storage, hangars suitable to house and maintain aircraft, are the operating surfaces up to snuff? Have any new housing estates been built since flying ceased, will it be affected by constant practice sorties. If the answer is we're not sure, then everyone on RAFAT should start practicing understanding that strange Yorkshire accent, because Leeming probably has all that good, practical, expensive stuff already.