Llanbedr (North Wales)
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Hi "Jack" 
"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!
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?
(I still think the red lightning's in the wrong position Jack
)
"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!
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?
(I still think the red lightning's in the wrong position Jack
)
Join Date: Jan 2001
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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
) 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
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
) 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
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
I'm not sure where it is now, does anyone know?
M
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Join Date: Jun 2001
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Keep em coming
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!
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!
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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?
Neg G - what condition was the Phantom in when you visited??
Is this the end of the Jindiviks too?
Join Date: Jan 2001
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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
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 !
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
Neg G
and also my impending trip to Shell Island 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 !
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
Neg G
Join Date: Apr 2002
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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.
Looked very sleepy.
DeepC
I was looking from the road side high up above the site looking across towards the sea.
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"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 !
As for the photos.......can't you read the signs ? Naughty boy
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
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 !
As for the photos.......can't you read the signs ? Naughty boy
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
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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
Neg G
Come on, somebody must have some news on this lovely base
Neg G
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.
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.
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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
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
Neg G
P.S £600 for the charter Isn't excessive considering the location especially if it was return
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
Neg G
P.S £600 for the charter Isn't excessive considering the location especially if it was return
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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.
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.
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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
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.
£21 million investment puts Wales at heart of UAV sector
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.
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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.
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.
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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!
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!