Llanbedr (North Wales)

[No comment]

Does anyone know if Llanbedr is still to close in either 2004 or 2005? I know there was a lot of local uproar as it is quite a big employer for the Cambrian Coast... did this change anything?

For those that don't know Llanbedr, its one of the only places in the country you can find Jindivik target drones, Hawks, Alpha Jets, Canberra (TT18 i think) and last but most DEFINATELY not least an airworthy Meteor D.16.

Many an hour was spent watching some of the training there where a hawk or two would take off and circle whilst a Jindivik would take off aboard its little trolley (no landing gear as such bar a skid). They would then formate and head out over the Irish sea. Never really knew what went on out there but a couple of times the drone didn't return!

If the closure is still going ahead then I would really hate to see the Meteor end up in a museum as it is fully airworthy and to my knowledge it still flies quite a bit (correct me if I'm wrong!) as well as the Canberra(s)...

[dada]

best close it - it's in wales

[Zlin526]

dada,

A very inappropriate comment. At least come up with something original or the slightest bit witty about the place if you're going to slag it.
http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/splat.gif

[InFinRetirement]

He's like that, full of stupid comments! :sad:

[Windy Militant]

Are the Hawks still there? I thought that they got the Alpha jets because the Hawks were being transfered to the RAF to help keep the training schedule moving.

Looks like the rumours are true then QuinetiQ have already shut down West Freugh, looks like Aberporth and Llanbedr are next.

The loss of the Apprentice scheme was a great loss to an area which has little to offer young people, the loss of the bases will be even worse.:(

[newswatcher]

Back in February, Dr Moonie disclosed that he would consider leasing the base out - apparently Boeing was asked if it was interested!

At that time, he responded to the local MP as follows - The Llanbedr facility has been operating at a significant financial loss. Last financial year there was an under recovery of £2.4m, this financial year we are expecting losses of over £3.6m. Keeping Llanbedr open would not only result in continuing losses of this kind, the requirement to re-surface the runway and obtain the necessary flight clearance for a new model of Jindivik would incur additional costs of over £10m. These are the facts, closing Llanbedr will save the taxpayer money. I have found no news since this, apart from a mention in June about considering Llanbedr as one of a number of "regional" airports that could be set up in Wales, along the lines of those in Ireland, using EU grants to subsidise this "public" service! Better not hold your breath on this one.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I've heard reliable rumours of spirited attempts to turn it into a technology park, centred around the airfield - with Welsh Development Agency grants trying to lure in aviation and hi-tech businesses.

I must admit, I could think of worse places to live and work. Warton for example :} It could become a sort of British Mojave, acting as a civilian flight test centre, lots of nice open Irish sea to fly over, very little traffic, and a decent airfield facility.


The Jindiviks are / were used as targets or target tugs, mostly the latter. When dealing with autonomous missiles, occasionally you got the tug not the target, hence the use of an unmanned aircraft !

G

[Shropshire Lad]

Used to love going down that bit of coast - standing on the dunes at Shell Island watching the Meteors, Jindiviks and Sea Vixen. Superb!:D There was always that air of mystery with the place too! Are the Jindiviks being replaced and is the Phantom still on the dump there?

[Windy Militant]

Just heard about this from my Mum this morning

£3 Milion helicopter contract for Aberporth (http://www.thisistivyside.net/tivyside/news/NEWS0.html)

so not all doom and gloom.

[John (Gary) Cooper]

On a trip to Llanbedr in February 1969 there were 21 Jindivik's on site. I seem to recall that you had to guage the tides right to get to and from the 'island' is this correct?

[hairyclameater]

The tide across the causeway to Shell Island "holiday park" could indeed be risky if timed wrong

Spent many happy weeks there with the ATC. The sight of the Vixen , 2 of the most gorgous coloured Canberras ever doing pairs approaches , the then based Hawks tail chasing whilst the runway was closed for the Jindivik to be recovered- great stuff

Flying was sporadic but quality.

Getting in the hangar and clambering over the fleet (Vixen -still in its real colours and not the pathetic circus act scheme at the moment):* Devon, 2 Hawks, 2 Meteors and about 12 Jindiviks.
The other Vixen XS577 had been retired and was sitting outside, this has since been chopped up but I believe the nose was spared - but from previous threads you may have noticed my hatred of that practice!

The two Hawks were XX154 and XX160 - the very first Hawk to fly and one of the pre-production airframes. Due to pathetic short sightedness, the RAF had to reclaim them as there was a shortfall in the number of Hawks available.Surely in the late 80s the question should have been asked- Our Hawks will soon be knackered shall we order some more while were still making them? But no, we wait until 2003 and very nearly buy joint Italian - Russian types!.
We then had to lease the Hawks lesser rival - the Alpha Jet to perform the reserach functions - any comments from BD or Llanbedr on operating these? Has anyone at ETPS performed an inverted spin since the Hunter was retired??:cool:

[Jack Davidson]

The Canberras, WH734 and WK128 are both still there but have not flown since April 2002. (Long term storage pending disposal I think).

[READY MESSAGE]

As I understand it Llanbedr is to close at some point in the near future. Their last lifeline is apparently them bidding for the Air Ambulance contract. The Air Ambulance are currently at Caernarfon and seemingly very happy.....so there is a bit of a battle going on.......

[Shropshire Lad]

I had heard that the flying activities were going to move down to Aberporth - great shame if that were to be the case. I presume that the Jindiviks will be replaced then as well and things will never be the same............

[fradu]

The two Hawks were XX154 and XX160 - the very first Hawk to fly and one of the pre-production airframes. Due to pathetic short sightedness, the RAF had to reclaim them as there was a shortfall in the number of Hawks available.Surely in the late 80s the question should have been asked- Our Hawks will soon be knackered shall we order some more while were still making them? But no, we wait until 2003 and very nearly buy joint Italian - Russian types!.

Don't forget that the RAF gave the Royal Navy some "surplus" Hawks to replace the fleet of FRADU Hunters.
Brilliant decision that :ok:

[Chairborne 09.00hrs]

Jack,

When chatting to the lads in the hangar last December, I learned that severeal vital parts on the Canberras were life expired and replacements were not available.

Elsewhere, I heard a rumour that the two airframes were to be reclaimed to keep 39 Sqn's aircraft in the air; alas, they would be cut=up on site for parts reclamation.

Sad.:(

[Beeayeate]

Chairborne,

"Elsewhere, I heard a rumour that the two airframes were to be reclaimed to keep 39 Sqn's aircraft in the air; alas, they would be cut=up on site for parts reclamation."

39's trusty steeds are PR.9s and T.4s. The T.4's could benefit from some bits from the Llanbedr airframes, but not much - small items, jacks, etc. As I heard it, it's the Avons the RAF logistics (at Wyton) want for the T.4s, but there seems to be some inter-departmental thing going on preventing an easy transfer. :*

[hairyclameater]

Surely if Air Atlantique and the Ozzies can keep a privately owned Canberra flying each , then the MoD can afford a few bits n pieces to keep at least one of their TT18s flying???

Its laughable it really is - I ask you , a couple of poxy Alpha Jets to essentially replace a Sea Vixen, 2 Meteors, 2 Hawks and 2 Canberras for specialist target facilities and support functions!

Incidentally when I was up there in '91-92 (ish) there was talk of converting a couple of ex RAF Phantoms to high speed drone configuration to replace the cvix. Imagine that a red'n yella Phantom - sooperb!

Then the money dried up when the MoD went civilian.

[BEagle]

Just another example of the cash-strapped era we've ended up in.... But no doubt we're still pi$$ing money away on the worthless MRA4 and the Bureaufighter - can they get its wheels to go up and down yet?

And as for having to rob what are virtually museum pieces in order to keep the ancient aircraft of the RAF's only PRU flying.....words fail me!

[Jack Davidson]

Beeayeate,

For

'There seems to be some inter-departmental thing going on preventing an easy transfer'.

Read

We will sell the spares back to you. (Yes its true)!

hairyclameater

'Surely if Air Atlantique and the Ozzies can keep a privately owned Canberra flying each , then the MoD can afford a few bits n pieces to keep at least one of their TT18s flying'?

Being in the loop I can tell you that both a/c have little problem with spares.

BTW both Llanbedr aircraft have fairly low hours, 3,800 hrs in WK128’s case and WH734 with only1,900 hrs.

[Beeayeate]

Hi "Jack" :hmm: :hmm:

"We will sell the spares back to you. (Yes its true)!"

Yes, that's what I understood, but didn't want to come right out and say it! :E

734 & 128, as I understand it have "major components" that are out of hours rather than the airframe. Seems they are strapped for spares as well maybe!

And there are three ex-RAF Canberras flying privately and commercially in the states - how do they do that, eh? :confused:

(I still think the red lightning's in the wrong position Jack ;) ;) ;) )

[hairyclameater]

Great idea!! Let a proper civilian organisation fly the TT18s and B2/6 on target facilities duties during the week and airshows at the weekend!! Give em the Meteor as well!

[Negative 'G']

Ah so it's not only me who spent half my summer holidays as a kid on Shell Island, like someone said earlier there was a certain amount of mystique about the place, this was increased by having "Photography strictly Prohibited" signs dotted around everywhere ! One night the runway lights suddenly lit up without warning at around midnight and my Father and I was literally pi55ing ourselves with anticipation(Well that was his excuse, I used to notice it everytime he drank Guinness) of what was about to happen next, when suddenly we heard the noise of a Jet engine........come closer........and closer........then we saw the Nav lights........and then the anticlimax, it was only a Civvie Citation ! Humphhhhh back to bed for me & another can of Guinness for Dad !
Hehe, Yeah it may have only been a Citation but it could have easily been a Blackbird,U-2 or even a Stealth a/c (Runway length permitting of course:D) the point I'm trying to make is that it was the kind of place where nothing i saw would have shocked me but in actual fact, nothing is probably exactly what took place their most of the time !

I still stop off their occasionally for a nosey just to pay respect to the place, for without Llanbedr & the interest it provided to me as a kid, I could have ended up as an accountant or something eaqually boring now ! A couple of years ago there was an airship tethered on the airfield carrying out some trails along with another ex Navy Canberra TT18 (WH887) which I presume was there to be scrapped ?
Earlier this year there was no Sea Vixens or Canberras to be seen anywhere on the field inc. the dump (I walked up to the sand dunes) only the Phantom & a couple of Alphajets oh and of course the lovely meteor ('L' I think)sat outside rotting away.

What a terrible waist of a lovely airfield if it does go, please keep us informed if anyone hears more on the subject, I wonder if anyone on the Mil Forum is active their ?

Neg G

p.s A good book on the field is called "Target Rolling" available from Shell island or ISBN No. 1-85780-136-9 price £10.99

[fradu]

WH887 was absorbed into the Llanbedr fleet after it finished its FRADU career in December 1992. Not sure if it ever flew with the Unit or if its main purpose was as a "christmas tree" to keep the other jets flying.

I'm not sure where it is now, does anyone know?

M

[No comment]

Some great replies here, keep them coming if you can!

Neg G, the amount of times I got my dad do drive us all the way from Dolgellau (eating into said parents' valuable holiday time) only to see nothing there but an eerily empty airfield with the hangar doors firmly shut. Any distant rumble from the mountains was enough to try and persuade them to let us stay a little longer....just in case!
Still the place did (and I gues still does) have that air of mystery. Nothing would have been out of place there, especially like you say with all those signs there. Wales' own little Boscombe I suppose.

As for the future, I think I've seen the last of the active Llanbedr. Cant see the helicopter moving there from just up the road. Does the RAF have a Sea King up at Valley? If so then thats too close too. Last resort would be Air Wales (who I'm sure mentioned something when they were looking at starting up) but I think they're too big for that now anyway plus the catchment area really isn't great!

If only!

[Shropshire Lad]

It is a real shame that it seems to be closing now - I too dragged my parents there on the off chance of seeng something strange and mysterious - it was still worth travelling all the way from Shropshire just to see the Sea Vixen and Meteors. (some how the Hawks were never the same - and the Alpha Jets??). Many a happy day spent sitting on the dunes looking over the airfield.

Neg G - what condition was the Phantom in when you visited??

Is this the end of the Jindiviks too?:sad:

[Negative 'G']

I thought it about time to resurrect this thread after last week’s announcements on defence cuts:( and also my impending trip to Shell Island :D

Has anyone heard anything more about the closure date of Llanbedr ?

I was told via a friends, uncles, cousins second nieces brother in-laws girlfriends Mum's mates husband, that a couple of weeks ago whilst on holiday at Shell Island there were 2 Meteors, 2 Alphajets, 2 Jindiviks, a Hawk and a USAF MH53 helicopter sharing the ramp at the sleepy site !:hmm:

In a very late answer to your question "Shropshire Lad", the Phantom was in a poor state last year IIRC the canopy had been left open with several panels etc... missing.

Please let any news be good news :ok:

Neg G

[No comment]

Neg G, I'll be expecting a report when you return from Shell Island!

And, perhaps a couple of piccies of how it is now?! :ok:

[DeepC]

A couple of weeks ago there were a couple of Meteors (I think?) and the Phantom. There were a also a couple of Jindivik drones.

Looked very sleepy.

DeepC

I was looking from the road side high up above the site looking across towards the sea.

[yakker]

nocomment "Does the RAF have a Sea King up at Valley?"

I was at RAF Valley in June and, yes they do.

[Negative 'G']

"No Comment"

You'll have a full report after the weeks vacation, but be prepared for some lengthy reading as this may consist of a total of five possibly six movements throughout the week !:rolleyes: :zzz:

As for the photos.......can't you read the signs ? Naughty boy ;) :D

Yakkers right, there are often three or four Sea Kings based at Valley due to it being home to 22Sqn (SAR) and the SAR helo training unit.

"Deep C" Yes from what I remember its a good viewing spot from the road above, as for the two Meteors, where they both drone coloured (Red/Yellow) or was one a dark colour, possibly Martin Bakers ???

Neg G

[DeepC]

The meteors (I am assuming that is what they were as they were partially obscurred and a long way off) were red and another colour either white or yellow.

DeepC

[Negative 'G']

Unless it was Llanbedrs two Red/Yellow Meteors 'L' and 'Z' basking in the sun, though I'm sure 'L' hasn't flown in years:(

Come on, somebody must have some news on this lovely base :hmm:

Neg G

[surely not]

Visiting Aberporth recently there was a lot of work going on building a business park near to the quaint Terminal, plus a based exec (and I use the word adviseably!) operator trying to drum up business for their Navajo. Adverts for flight s to London hid the fact that they wanted £600 for the charter!

There was a German Lynx there but nothing else that I could see. The local press seemed to be considerably upbeat about its future.

I didn't see any comments about Llanbedr.

[Negative 'G']

Its a pity that Llanbedr isn't located in an area that warrants a Buisness park, but I suppose thats what makes the place so nice :D

The best thing for such a remote airfield next to the sea would be to use it for Target drones & missile practice etc..., but then again up until now every government has agreed with that:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Neg G:(

P.S £600 for the charter Isn't excessive considering the location especially if it was return:p

[Spot 4]

I think that the biggest risk to Llanbedrs future has yet to be discussed. Technology! Waddington is now a world class unit for Air to Air fighting teaching, and they can do with virtual reality pods on jets what the Strike Command Armanent (sp?) Camp [based at Valley but using the Jindiviks] did with live missiles. Simple fact is that missiles are expensive, and nowadays the only need to fire one is for trials / testing of new and upgraded systems. Torpedoes are already trialed in the US, and it wont be long before the cost savings of closing an air base in lieu of the stateside det every now and then are realised. That DERA run the place is probably the only reason that it is still open, for the MOD are very keen to close a lot of airfields within the next 3 years. Apparently there are over 70 active military airfields in the UK.

I would think that either Llanbedr or Mona will go shortly, unless Carnarfon moved its Ops to the better equiped Llanbedr ie Open a civvie side to the field.

PS

Valley has a Sea King `flight` and is shortly to get SKTU move in from St Mawgan. SARTU use Griffin (Bell412) helicopters.

[Windy Militant]

There may be hope yet. Having heard some rumours from home, followed by seeing a drone at RIAT it seems that there may be some substance to them
£21 million investment puts Wales at heart of UAV sector (http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Business&F=1&id=6955)
I'm presuming that the runway layout at Llanbedr will still make it preferable to Aberporth for launching UAV's. Let's hope it's not just smoke and mirrors.

[Chairborne 09.00hrs]

Neg,

The second Meteor seen would have been Martin Baker's. The airframe life on WK800 is now so limited that Llanbedr's Meteor pilots (or is there now only one?) get their continuation training in the M-B aircraft.

WH453 has not flown for over 10 years, I believe.

I understand that the last Meteor flight will be 1st November or thereabouts.

[Snakecharmer]

Ah... Shell Island! Spent many happy days there as a teenager watching trials aeroplanes various.. the first Hunter T8M, early Sea Harrier, Sea Eagle Buccaneer, the first drone Sea Vixen being flown from the ground with an FR Test Pilot on board, the Meteor NF11-and-a half... go a long way to beat the Devon joining via a run-and-break though!

Easy for me... got a lift in during school holidays from my father who was one of those lucky enough to do the flying... sat at home on a sunny summer day, he has a few minutes fuel left after a 'range trip'... cue orange Meteor dipping its wings over our house up in the hills... magic!

[No comment]

I'm sensing a Pprune visit before the flying stops!

[Negative 'G']

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news about Llanbedr, especially having just spent a lovely week there, I couldn't believe that this was announced during my stay.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/3561380.stm

Neg G:(

[Shropshire Lad]

Looks like it's the end then :( V. sad for the people working there and the local community too. It all seems very quick with the closure happening at the end of October.

Doesn't give me much time to get back there whilst they are still flying for one last look from the dunes on Shell Island. Sad day indeed...

[No comment]

From that BBC link:

"But its future may take another twist with interest being shown by the RAF.

A spokeswoman for Ministry of Defence Estates said: "A decision on its future rests with the RAF who have made a bid to use it in connection with their contract to train Indian Air Force pilots."

So there could be some hope then? I would hate to see it close, even though its been mooted for some time now.

[Shropshire Lad]

"A decision on its future rests with the RAF who have made a bid to use it in connection with their contract to train Indian Air Force pilots."

Would this be some form of relief landing ground then - I'm assuming the training would be based at Valley?? This would probably give the place a reprieve for a while.
(at least until the contract ends!)

[Negative 'G']

This would probably give the place a reprieve for a while

Yes lets hope so because Valley is extremely busy at the moment, although as previously mentioned it would more than likely be a short term extension of use, but then again a year later they may find another use for it.......:D

Anyway as promised for "No Comment" and other closet spotters:8 a full Listing of Aircraft seen at Llanbedr last week:-

ZJ 646 - Alpha Jet(Flying)
ZJ 649 - Alpha Jet(Flying)
WH453 - Meteor (Red/Yellow outside in Poor condition)
WH734 - Canberra (Raspberry ripple, tied down outside !)
WH887 - Canberra (Dump/Fire dept.)
XV435 - Phantom (Dump/Fire Dept.)
A92-480 - Jindavik on Gate
>4 x Jindaviks (Flying)
1 x RN FRADU Hawk being roaded out on low loaders !

In addition to the above there were numerous Hawks from Valley in the circuit most days, plus overshoots from C-130's,Tornados & various Helicopters.
The two days I spent on Shell Island the Jindaviks were being lauched several times a day but there was no sign of the resident Meteor (WK800) nor Canberra(WK128) all week !:(

Hmmmmmm i almost feel 12 again :) :D :) :D

Neg G

P.s The Lager was very good in the club too !

[Beeayeate]

Hi Neg G

Very interested to hear about the two Canberras, don't suppose you got any pictures did you?

Especially interested about WH734 still being all in one piece so to speak as it's a pretty historic aricraft.

WH734 (built early 1953) was the first British jet aircraft to be fitted out as an air-to-air tanker. Conversion was carried out by Flight Refuelling Ltd in late 1954 (50 years ago!) with a hose drum unit fitted into the rear part of the bomb bay. Used for high speed flight trials of probe/drouge systems the Canberra proved equal to the task and, arguably, if it had been developed further could have been of great value making use of redundant B.2 airframes as the bomber force declined.

Pic shows WH734 in action during trials.

http://www.canberra.plus.com/pics/wh734-6.jpg

[Negative 'G']

Beeayeate,

WOW what an excellent picture, I didn't realise that WH734 had such a history, a friend told me that it was still sat outside a couple of weeks ago:( when he had a short stay on Shell Island.

Has anyone obtained any more up to date information regarding Llanbedr or is the final Ops day still as previously stated to be the 31st Oct(Sun) or more likely Fri 29th?
Any information on any official closing ceremony's etc.. would be greatly appreciated.

Neg G:(

[hairyclameater]

MEMORIES!!

Have posted these elsewhere but what the hell....

All from '90-'92

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan135.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan134.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan131.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan130.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan127.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan129.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan121.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan96.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan84.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan82.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan83.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/AEROMEDIA/Scan81.jpg

[Gainesy]

That's got to be one of the nicest Canberra paint schemes ever. Great pics Hairy.

[Negative 'G']

Wow what excellent photographs Mr H.C.Eater, they brought a lump to my throat especially as I heard via another website that the Final operational Flight of Meteor WK800 (Z) was made today at 11.30am with its final resting place unknown :(

Its hard to believe the inevitable is gunna happen to Llanbedr !

Neg G:(

[John (Gary) Cooper]

A friend of mine lives very close to Llanbedr and confirms the base is to close at the end of the month and has also stated that the fire section is to be disbanded, so nothing likely to take its place in aviation in the near future.

A link, if it hasn't been posted before:

http://www.maesartro.co.uk/llanbedr.htm

[hairyclameater]

Thanks for the comments guys re the pix - some of them were shot from a canoe whilst on camp with the space cadets! Great days.
Thats sad to hear about WK800 - probably be broken up and the "nose" preserved - thats crap. Problem is we had a gorgous Meteor F8 (VZ467 - owned by Delta Jets for a while) but that was sold to Oz, so presume no hope of this bird being retained, thats even crappier.

[No comment]

Ok, this subject raises its head again! Just been sent a little snippet from the Cambrian News (at least I think thats where it was cut from!). Its not all quite over yet!

..................Surrey-based Thales UK plc are the preferred bidders for the Watchkeeper programme and their chief executive Alex Dorrian is supportive of using the Cardigan bay area for test flying.

He stated in a letter to Lisa Francis AM: "The UAVs used within the more advanced Watchkeeper programme are far more advanced than the Jindivik drones currently flown and do not require the extensive ground facilities, long runway or supporting chase aircraft currently based there.

"Test flying no the Watchkeeper programme must take place, and the system will be certified eventually only for in service use, in military controlled airspace.

"There are a limited number of UK sites suitable for this and the final decision about where to undertake this testing has not yet been taken.

"However, we have actively promoted the use of the Cardigan bay area, working closely with the WDA and the DDA. This would have a twofold benefit.

"Firstly there would be a direct benefit of test flying within the Bay - based either at Llanbedr, if available, or at the commercially owned Parc Aberporth site.

"The work would be expected to start towards the end of 2005 and involve a team of perhaps 20 to 30 people working on trials activities in the early phases of the programme.

"The continuing uncertainty over the future of Llanbedr Airfield means that we have been unable to confirm Llanbedr as our preferred site, even though we see it has specific advantages.

"Ultimately the decision on the closure of Llanbedr or indeed plans for the site following its closure, rests with the MoD, it is therefore not guaranteed as available for operation of flight trials".

Later in the article Ms Francis said:

"I will still be pressing for Llanbedr to be used in some way in the Watchkeeper programme because of the facilities available and the fully trained workforce. We have until the end of the year to get the MoD to take the same view".

[Time Bandit]

Memories of my parents forcing me and my bro on a huge number of caravaning holidays to some farm in the hills above Llanbedr in the early-mid 80s as a kid. I think RAE Llanbedr probably started interested in flying. Every year we'd visit the
limited number of exhibits at Maes Artro, pass the fascinating Jindivik gateguard on our way to the beach, and take a stroll along the "slate walk" from the picnic spot, offering views of the aircraft parked up. My old man particularly enjoyed pointing out all the aircraft he knew from when he was a kid.

Didn't one of the Jindiviks crash in the dunes? I seem to remember something about that.

3 issues played on my mind there as a young'n.

1) What would happen if you took a photo, as the sign on the road through to the beach appeared to my young mind to say "MOD property, anyone taking photos will be shot"!

2) Where did the man sit in that red and yellow aeroplane thing by the gate? I couldn't really fathom the whole pilotless thing.

3) What unspoken things go on in the village during the hours of darkness?

The last issue left me wetting the bed at night. Still does.

It's a shame the buggers in suits are closing the Airfield though. It will take some of the character away from a nice area.

[Shropshire Lad]

Just got the info that the Meteor there ,WH453, is up for disposal - qouoted as non effective and if you see the picture you can see why!!! It looks in a pretty poor state - one for the scrapman I feel.
Shame really as it looks like it is one of the drone conversions - does anyone have any further details?

It would be good to see a few more Jindiviks preserved as well - does anyone know whether they may be offered for disposal with the closure of Llanbedr?

[fradu]

I have seen the photo and the Meatbox does indeed look in poor shape cosmetically.
Hopefully someone will save her, but it does look a possible for that airfield in the sky :(

[Negative 'G']

Well sadly the closure & decommissioning of Llanbedr has passed by almost unrecognised:( with little sign of its aviation history remaining.

For any wishing to ponder on 'what used to be' one of the nicest airfields in Britain theres a good little article in this months Aircraft Illustrated, which sadly also mentions what has happened to the former based aircraft such as the historic Canberra WH734 which "Beeayeate" informed us of earlier in this thread & "Hairyclameater" supplied some excellent photos of.
Sadly several of the aircraft have come in contact with the scrapmans Gas torch:(

On a hopefully brighter note has anyone heard of any future plans for the airfield ?

Neg G

[Atcham Tower]

I hear that the runway lights have been ripped out, presumably the first stage of a ploy to render the site unusable for further flying?

[Negative 'G']

Huh bleedin typical, though that could be a good sign, give it 2yrs & they'll be installing new ones at our expense !

IIRC the Runway surface is very hard & abrasive(High Friction) at Llanbedr & the Airfield manuals used to warn of encountering excessive breaking action & tire wear etc..:E

Edited to say that I now know what happened to the remaining Non-Flying Airframes:-:(

WH543 - Meteor - Static display at Bentwaters museum

WH734 - Canberra - Scrapped:(

WH887 - Canberra - Scrapped:(

WK128 - Canberra - Scrapped:(

XV435 - Phantom - Scrapped:(


Neg G:(

[hairyclameater]

But at least the noses of the Cranberries have been saved woo hoo :mad: , yep so in effect scrapped......

[Shropshire Lad]

I have just heard a rumour that all the Jindiviks have now been scrapped - does anyone know if this is true?? I haven't seen any tenders etc for this come through but was hoping to see if there was the opportunity to preserve more than the coupe that are around the UK at the moment.

[ozplane]

Flew out of Caernarfon last week and my instructor said he'd heard thet the Llanbedr runways were being blown up as we flew. Something to do with having to return it to the local landowners as it was before the construction took place. Seems a typically daft Ministry/Service approach.

[Negative 'G']

Hi Shropshire Lad,

Regarding the Jindiviks, all the remaining Mk.800's where scrapped on site during early December:( except for ZJ493 which performed the last flight from Llanbedr & is going on display at Cosford.
Approx. 17 Mk.900's (Most have never flown) are stored at RAF Stafford, to be "disposed" of by Liquidity services inc. one other Mk.900 has been donated to Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum

A total of 7747 Jindivik launches took place from Llanbedr during their 45 year partnership.

All the above info was taken from the Aircraft Illustrated magazine article previously mentioned.

Ozplane, thats typical of the ministry, what a shock the next Hawk Jockey's gunna get when he has a flame out around the mountains & then turns finals over Barmouth for a glide approach to 36:rolleyes: why not leave it there, it'd save someones life in the next ten years, I'd stake my own on that !

Neg

[Shropshire Lad]

Hi Negative 'G'

Thanks for the info - Since posting I have subsequently heard there were some "Health & Safety isssues" surrounding the Jindiviks leading to the scrapping - though why that should apply to all but ZJ493 is beyond me! Still looking to preserve one though and have somewhere to keep it so will see what happens with the Mk900s!

A real shame if the runways are being broken up as that was a great airfield.

Cheers

SL

[No comment]

Will no doubt shed a tear next time I pass through Llanbedr. Will find it very hard not to stop at THAT lay-by, and a walk in the sand dunes just wont be the same without being buzzed by Canberras and Hawks...

Oh well...

On another note, what will become of the village? How many people were employed by the facility?

[jindabyne]

Anyone know if the Government/MoD neddies have/had a grand plan for the future? Or if the site is privately owned, is it therefore out of their hands? Hope there was a great deal of consideration before demolishing the runway? Negative 'G' - nice point; myself and a couple other ex-Valley Hunter glider mates were thankful for that piece of real estate. Ah well, time to move on I guess.

[Beeayeate]

Some of you will be pleased to know that the cockpit section of Canberra WH734 (mentioned up-thread) has been exported to New Zealand. Currently it's still in the port there but it will eventually be displayed by the Ashburton Aviation Museum as part tribute to and representative of the RNZAF Canberra Squadrons during Confrontation.

Although it's good to see at least part of this historic Canberra being preserved it would have been more fitting in my opinion to have had it refitted with a refuelling probe on top of the nose and been displayed at a museum in the UK along with its interesting history.