C17 at Gutersloh today
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C17 at Gutersloh today
I just saw an RAF C17 loading some AAC Lynx helicopters at Gutersloh to transport them to Kenya on exercise.
Can anybody tell me why the trooping/logistic flights to Germany use Hannover, Dusseldorf, Padeborn etc instead of this well equipped military airfield...seems an awful waste of tax-payers money in landing/handling fees.
Can anybody tell me why the trooping/logistic flights to Germany use Hannover, Dusseldorf, Padeborn etc instead of this well equipped military airfield...seems an awful waste of tax-payers money in landing/handling fees.
Gutersloh Airfield
If my memory serves me right, I remember that the airfield was sold to a local German businessman when the RAF vacated the airfield, and before the AAC moved in.
He must be laughing all the way to the Deutchebank. But he is welcome to his Euro's.
He must be laughing all the way to the Deutchebank. But he is welcome to his Euro's.
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The Army destroyed Gutersloh. It could be said that I have spent a day or two there, and when I revisited in 2001 I was appalled at what grunt mentality had done to this once important Airhead/VSTOL/SH base.
The businessman is probably Bertelsmann of Book / CD / Music money who owns a large bit of stadt Gutersloh, but who also was never given permission to build a civil apron on the other side of the River Emms (via a bridge) despite having the financial backing to complete the task (and the support of the stadthaus)
Happy days ~ A disgrace that the Army readers should be ashamed of, hell they even filled in the swimming pool!
The businessman is probably Bertelsmann of Book / CD / Music money who owns a large bit of stadt Gutersloh, but who also was never given permission to build a civil apron on the other side of the River Emms (via a bridge) despite having the financial backing to complete the task (and the support of the stadthaus)
Happy days ~ A disgrace that the Army readers should be ashamed of, hell they even filled in the swimming pool!
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Bertelsmann lease a small area of the airfield to operate their business jets from and have been told to leave by next month!. The rest of the airside is Army Air Corp. The problem is not AAC. the problem lies with the other logistic units who only understand trucks and would dearly love to park them on that lovely long runway.
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The RW is not that long. I seem to remember it was 7388ft. But that was when there were 2 sqns of GR3s, 2 helo sqns, Lightning dets, a busy air moves terminal and more visitors than you could shake a stick at.
WIWAGs unite.....................
WIWAGs unite.....................
It seems that the first thing the dung-eaters do when they inherit an aerodrome is to wreck it sufficiently to prevent it ever being used for real flying operations ever again.
Why didn't we give the bug.gers places like HMP K.....s or Y-Fali rather than places in civilisation such as Abingdon, Wattisham, Chivenor, Upavon.........
Why didn't we give the bug.gers places like HMP K.....s or Y-Fali rather than places in civilisation such as Abingdon, Wattisham, Chivenor, Upavon.........
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Back to the topic not the inter-service mud throwing...
The airfield is still British Army owned, but the main runway is leased to Bertlsmann. He pays rent for the use of the airfield for a set number of landings per annum to 1 (UK) Div and also pays for the upkeep of the main runway. The British have a clause in the contract which only allows a certain number of fixed wing flights to use the main runway per year..hence the use of Civvie charters to the likes of Paderborn etc. Hope this clears it up.
The airfield is still British Army owned, but the main runway is leased to Bertlsmann. He pays rent for the use of the airfield for a set number of landings per annum to 1 (UK) Div and also pays for the upkeep of the main runway. The British have a clause in the contract which only allows a certain number of fixed wing flights to use the main runway per year..hence the use of Civvie charters to the likes of Paderborn etc. Hope this clears it up.
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The number of fixed wing aircraft in the contract only refers to Bertlesmann civil aircraft use I believe, there is nothing to stop military flights using the runway (C130's and a C17 landed in the last week for example).
Bertlsmann are being effectivly thrown out at the end of October, a strange decision as they pay for a large part of the upkeep of the airfield? Is this another military cost saving exercise?
Bertlsmann are being effectivly thrown out at the end of October, a strange decision as they pay for a large part of the upkeep of the airfield?
Is this another military cost saving exercise?
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Firstly can i say Mr BEagle that I have always read with interest some of the comments you put on threads and honestly thought that you were a person with some considerable knowledge. Now I agree that I am not in that category so therefore ask
"what is a dung eater?
Moving on from that an RQHI is a Regimental Qualified Helicopter Instructor usually with a vast amount of experience and is proud of his job and title and does not take likely, pathetic p---ks like you coming out with docile decodes of simple Aviation abbreviations. Best you stick to your own threads and pass on your wealth of knowledge to the other up and coming idiots that are about to follow in your footsteps.
Stick to giving good advice and don't let yourself slip into the crap that sometimes goes on within these threads.
Oh yeh and by the way if Gutersloh was so important, then why did they give it up along with all the other RAF airfields in Germany. Answers on a postcard please.
Also wasting money on other airfields is usually common amongst the RAF, would you have stayed in barracks over night in a dingy room or would you have gone to Hannover and booked yourself into a nice hotel on the taxpayer of course. Nuff said.
"what is a dung eater?
Moving on from that an RQHI is a Regimental Qualified Helicopter Instructor usually with a vast amount of experience and is proud of his job and title and does not take likely, pathetic p---ks like you coming out with docile decodes of simple Aviation abbreviations. Best you stick to your own threads and pass on your wealth of knowledge to the other up and coming idiots that are about to follow in your footsteps.
Stick to giving good advice and don't let yourself slip into the crap that sometimes goes on within these threads.
Oh yeh and by the way if Gutersloh was so important, then why did they give it up along with all the other RAF airfields in Germany. Answers on a postcard please.
Also wasting money on other airfields is usually common amongst the RAF, would you have stayed in barracks over night in a dingy room or would you have gone to Hannover and booked yourself into a nice hotel on the taxpayer of course. Nuff said.
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Beagle,
It stands for Regimental Qualified Helicopter Instructor. And in my recent visits to Princess Royal Barracks the RQHI was doing an admirable job in the face of the RLC trying to turn the airfield into a truck park
Get back in your p1ssed-stained chair at the retirement home you ill-informed civvy.
Regards,
Detri
It stands for Regimental Qualified Helicopter Instructor. And in my recent visits to Princess Royal Barracks the RQHI was doing an admirable job in the face of the RLC trying to turn the airfield into a truck park
Get back in your p1ssed-stained chair at the retirement home you ill-informed civvy.
Regards,
Detri
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As the dung-eaters have effectivly got rid of Bertelsman they may try and park their lorries on the Runway. So unless someone sees common-sense (not a term usually associated with the Logistics Corp) and starts to bring in trooping/supply flights, then the runway's days may be numbered. (overheard the other day that during the recent build up for Saddam, it cost £750 000 in landing/handling fees to Hannover, and this was only over a 3 week period. Meanwhile Gutersloh was able and willing but not used
ooops did I say Dung Eaters...my mistake, wanted to say Garrison
\
ooops did I say Dung Eaters...my mistake, wanted to say Garrison
\
Looks like hook, line and sinker....
Predictably.
But why a 'Wedgimental' QHI? Aren't standard acronyms adequate? Do they have 'Command' QFIs in other Services?
Had many a pleasant night at Gut before the dung-eaters took it over. Usually in an hotel because the mess, not 'bawwacks', was normally full of youngster Harrier mate Porsche-polishers.
Just hope the Rusting Lorry Corps are made to park their trucks, walk their labwadors, exercise their horses somewhere else other than on the runway!
Oh-and as for retirement, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Pi$$-stained chair? No, usually a seat in business class thank you very much, Detriment.
Fair point about Hannover being used for grunt-twooping; why on earth it's being used instead of Gut is hard to defend. Did many a trip there; thieving little squaddies tried to steal bits of the aeroplane (e.g. life preservers) on more than one occasion.
Predictably. But why a 'Wedgimental' QHI? Aren't standard acronyms adequate? Do they have 'Command' QFIs in other Services?
Had many a pleasant night at Gut before the dung-eaters took it over. Usually in an hotel because the mess, not 'bawwacks', was normally full of youngster Harrier mate Porsche-polishers.
Just hope the Rusting Lorry Corps are made to park their trucks, walk their labwadors, exercise their horses somewhere else other than on the runway!
Oh-and as for retirement, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Pi$$-stained chair? No, usually a seat in business class thank you very much, Detriment.
Fair point about Hannover being used for grunt-twooping; why on earth it's being used instead of Gut is hard to defend. Did many a trip there; thieving little squaddies tried to steal bits of the aeroplane (e.g. life preservers) on more than one occasion.
Last edited by BEagle; 18th Sep 2003 at 04:14.