The linky is here
RAF plans huge cuts in planes and bases - Times Online
Summary:
Air Force chiefs are preparing to cut 10,000 staff — a quarter of their manpower — and close up to five large air bases.
It also intends to retire the majority of its Harrier and Tornado jets early, leaving it with about 80 fewer aircraft by 2025. The cuts are part of a package prepared for the 2010 annual spending round.
The bases most at risk include RAF Cottesmore in Rutland and RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire, both of which will close when the Harrier fleet is retired.
One of either RAF Marham in Norfolk or RAF Lossiemouth in Morayshire is under threat because of planned cuts to joint strike fighter numbers. So, too, is RAF Kinloss in Morayshire, with the new Nimrod MRA4 expected to move to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
One plan under consideration would see all RAF fast jet training moving to RAF Valley in Anglesey, leading to the possible closure of RAF Linton-on-Ouse and RAF Leeming, both in North Yorkshire.
Other proposals would see all the RAF’s Merlin helicopters move from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire to a joint RAF/RN station at what is currently Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall.
? Is this proposal a stalking horse like RNs plan to convert one of the CVS to a LPH (which is really a CVS without fixed wing)?