New Transport for RAF ????

[Descend to What Height?!?]

Are BA looking to provide the "rapid" in the Rapid Reaction Force, by using Concorde? Hence its visit to Brize for the next week or so ;)

On a serious note, why Brize in particular for the Concorde test program, or have I missed something? I take it if Boscombe was ever considered, DERA, QinetiQ or what ever they are called today, probably priced themselves out of the market! :p :rolleyes:

If it was just a big runway with cheap landing fees BA wanted, why not Prestwick or another airfield?

[ragspanner]

I think just down to the fact that Brize is its standard diversion.

[Scorpius]

May be BA are on a recruiting drive! Not a bad place to start - hopefully Waddo next!

[Max Brakin]

Agree with ragspanner Brize is one of the normal diversion airfields for Concorde and it's close to London so no trailing crerw around the country to fly.
Anyway isn't it great to see the lovely bird back flying.
I don't seem to recall all the furore over other aircraft first ( and hopefully, touch wood etc last) crash. welcome back Concorde ;) ;) ;)

[nigeriley]

Could the recent painting of some very non-standard runway markings have any thing to do with BZN being used ? As press reports are heavily into performance questions perhaps these marks are for acceleration testing ??

Or are the markings for the C17 ?? Anyone know the truth......

.. but why let the truth get in the way of a good rumour.... :confused:

[BEagle]

The markings are for C-17 pilot training purposes.

Also very handy for Flying Club operations!

[Bellerophon]

The real reason Concorde went to Brize was so that, just for once, BEagle could blame the noise complaints on someone else... :D

[BEagle]

Funny thing is, Bell', they used to get more complaints when Concorde was due to visit and didn't than when Concorde did operate from Brize!!

[callsign Metman]

I heard somewhere (maybe an 'Aviation Expert ' on the news) that the lack of a C of A certificate made it illeagal for Concorde to land at a UK civil airfield. That, along with the fact that BZN is a standard div were the reasons I'd heard. Any truth in the C of A bit???

CM :p

[Per Ardua ad Infinitum]

Was that the same 'expert' who didn't seem to have a clue what aircraft types are at Brize? Jaynes will have anybody these days!

[Gainesy]

Brize Norton -- Man Detained Near Concorde

It emerged last night that RAF Police detained a man found loitering near the Concorde parked at RNAS Brize Norton.

A spokesperson for the Top Secret Stealth helicopter base in Cambridgeshire said:"He is a Vickers Viagra pilot based here. He was caught tapping on the underside of the aircraft, just in front of the nose gear. He was muttering something about `Skinny Vulcan, hatch must be here'".
"We also found that he had duct-taped two garden hoses with funnels on the ends to the Concorde fuel dump outlets, we do not know why at this stage".

Local resident Elsie Carterton, 89, said: "Just a port & lemon ta luv. I knew something bad would happen when they built a base near the school/hospital/orphanage [Sub-Eds, pls delete to make fit as needed].

An MoD spokesman last night denied the existence of the RAF.

null

[newswatcher]

Concorde one day, "Air Force One" the next. What has BZN done to deserve this?

[BEagle]

Good job nobody saw the Aurora which diverted in a few weeks ago.......


(That'll get the twitchers rushing for their little aluminium step ladders!)

[Gainesy]

Nah,
They go to Mac****ish. ;)

[Gash Handlin]

Nah Gainsey

You must know that place doesn't exist, I'm definately not goin there for a two week ex in autumn

[Sumpy]

What goes round comes round. Spent many a night in the late 70s in the Spotlight cursing Concorde as it went round and round practising. It spent so long there in crew training that regular draws were held at BZN to allow people to get jollys on board for those flights. Still kept us awake in the singly blocks alongside rotation point though. Welcome back after all these years.

[The Mistress]

Our American cousins may be relieved to know that their President has touched down safely in his pale blue & white bird at a not so secret Oxfordshire base.

It's the biggest motorcade I've seen in these 'ere parts going through the village. Lots of big off-road type motors with tinted glass. Biggest threat was Abingdon Peace protestors at the main gate - all 10 of 'em :D A hand waved in my general direction but as the vehicles were travelling so fast it's hard to know if it was the man himself.

He pulled a MUCH smaller crowd than Concorde did yesterday :D

[Silva]

Brize can make the crash cat... :)

[eXtreme]

Yep

Concorde's noise is acceptable. What a fine machine with those great Olympus engines.

BEagle. Any news on what is to come and join the C17 in a couple of years?

[ 22 July 2001: Message edited by: eXtreme ]

[D-IFF_ident]

Is that a 99Sqn KC135???

http://www.fas.org/irp/mystery/aurora_fake.jpg

[BEagle]

No - it's a rather naughty picture of the ^^4Hi €€€$$ i878m vkc65 uuutu xnoix biuxp ofx63 46566 6nveg [goi[o [uunc tu9xn cfrub ifpus cnaiu !!

Bugger - that didn't get through Echelon's security sensor!

[Dragonspet]

Indeed that is a KC-135, with the modified boom flight control assembly. Increasing its surface area greatly improves it maneuverability. I had no idea the end result would be that large it looked much smaller on paper. :D

[only1leftmate!]

Per Ardua

congratulations on your second post, a little less mystic than your first. :confused: