Moray Based Airfield To Close

[A D ENUFF]

Heard this one recently. Lossiemouth or Kinloss. Any ideas as to which one and why.

[day1-week1]

Lossie to go for sure! The place is a dump and you can fit it all at kinloss as theyr'e proving at the moment.

[ppf]

Day1-week1, I’m not sure if they could fit it all at Kinloss. It’s my understanding that just the OCU is at Kinloss at the moment and I believe the other 3(?) Sqns are at Marham. The pans do look semi-packed so I don't know if Lossie could move in permanently?????

ppf

[mbga9pgf]

I reckon Kinloss. No requirement for the Nimrod to operate at sea now as its predominantly used for land support. I also suppose it depends upon how many MR4's we ACTUALLY get and that is yet to be announced.


Either way, I reckon at least one of the three (leuchars included) will go as part of this review...

[althenick]

If it was to be one (Sounds like BS to me) - i'd say Kinloss, given the way Nimrod 4 is going there is a good chance that the MoD will cut it. Which if that were the case then what would be the point of moving Lossie Squadrons to Kinloss? it would just cost money. (I am told) that lossie's Runways are more useable WRT wind. The Infrastucture with respect to Family Life in Kinloss is diabolical - who the hell in thier right mind would wand to stay (a) practically on the base or (b) about a mile away from it in the middle of nowhere? Also if you cut lossie and deploy the squadrons elsewhere then would it not invalidate the existance of the Tain Ranges???

Lossie to go for sure! The place is a dump and you can fit it all at kinloss as theyr'e proving at the moment.

I belive that the Main Runway is being refubished at present? Also just got new accomodation? and it's still a dump? D1W1, As I recall in 1989 Lossie had a bit of a reputation as a gash posting (My Brother was there - he hated it) in his case It was mainly down to the then Station Commander being a bit of a tyrant and making the boys work on Saturday Morning (Paid 365 days a year X Factored - poor people!) is this still the case, or is it really the Base facilities you are talking about?

BTW I still see that the Flying Ground Equipment is still parked up at the south side of Lossie - I thought it had moved to Kinloss???

[Slartibardfarst]

Following this thread, it would appear logical for Kinloss to be the one in the spotlight, as there is plenty of pan space / real-estate at Wadington to absorb the kipper fleet, whilst maintaining the bases hectic (!!) flying schedule. It makes no sense now to have the Nimrod guys so remote, as the Cold War days of Ruskies coming over the cape are long gone.........aren't they?

Leuchars would be another possibility, but having just relocated the OCU there to make way for the White Elephant at Coningsby. Understand the move hasn't gone too smoothly with all at the East coast haven, (only somewhere in the region of 3-400 attended the summer ball!!), but the move has happened and the cash-pot has been drained, so I guess they shall stay. Sadly though no more NTLT / JMC from there! F*&$£ng 56!!

As for the prospects of Lossie going, see my initial point, although, if pan space is at premium at Marham, I can't see this being a viable, long term solution.

S

[Biggus]

I had heard that Waddo was struggling to cope with the massive 'footprint' of 5 biz jets (ASTOR), so I believe the option of moving Nimrods there is not as simple as some seem to suggest.

I am sure if we wait a short while (21st July maybe?) we will find out what is actually going to happen. Still, why spoil a good rumour with the truth, and this is a rumour network after all!!!

[akula]

Rumour at ISK is that the board will recommend closure of Kinloss and a reduction of MRA4 airframes to 12, with the intention of basing MRA4 in more Southern regions(Lincolnshire). On the bright side though MR2 is expected to stay in service until about 2012 and remain at ISK throughout its tenure.

ALWAYS assume NEVER check

[BEagle]

If you consider that, back when we had an air force, Waddo housed 4 Vulcan squadrons with 10 jets, 50+ officers plus all their own groundcrew on each, how on earth can it possibly be 'struggling' to cope with little Arsetors? 40 a/c with 111 ft wingspan - now just the E-3Ds, a few invisible N****ds and 5 Global Excuses?

[jacob's ladder]

What about MRA4 to Scampton - it forms part of the new 'ISTAR Hub' with Waddo and only has 9 (10) little red things whizzing around for a few weeks of the year.

[Trumpet_trousers]

Lincolnshire real estate....

......if 'they' are really tight for space, why not re-lay/resurface the runway and hardstandings at Binbrook? Someone was way too quick to rip that lot up!......oh, yep, 'they' will need to build a new tower too.......

[Grimweasel]

You can't close Kinloss....... where we will go on scottac and who will give us jock pies in the horror boxes???

[Gainesy]

Remember that smug bstard of a local councillor who dumped on the Nimrod pre-Xmas booze cruise...er ...Navex?

Love to hear his comments on ISK closure.

[Arkroyal]

I belive that the Main Runway is being refubished at present? Also just got new accomodation?

That settles it, then.

Any place having huge amounts spent on it is usually next for the chop. Remember Chivenor; Portland?

[Judge Rembrandt]

Hard to believe that after the amount of money spent on both bases that it can even be an option to close either - but we live in strange times. A massive blow to the local economy if it happens -

Gainsey,

Do you mean this smug B*$tard....
http://news.scotsman.com/inverness.cfm?id=638842004
Oh yes, nice to see that after years of 'rumours' about this guys integrity and 'milking' what he could from the public purse, he finally got way too greedy!! A fitting end to the oxygen thief!!
Regards, JR
PS Still think your article on the Mighty Bunter - featured in Jets a good while ago - is just super!!

[Bol Zup]

If Lossie does go that will mean no radar service for Inverness civil traffic. Back to mega EAT's at EGPE.

[cyclic]

Wrong councillor - the one that got upset about the booze cruise is still doing the rounds drinking at everyone else's expense. He does fit the oxygen thief category though.

The local (SNP) MP stated in this weeks local rag that he was pleased that there was no threat to the Moray airbases but was upset about the removal of a number of Scottish Regiments. If he thinks there is no threat then we need to worry.....

[Gainesy]

Thank you Mi'Lord R, twas a better effort than one I did some years earlier, flying a six hour sortie after a late night in the Bothy with assorted hoogilans.

Shame its not the same councillor though. Killjoy tw@t.

As to closures, runway refurbishment and new buildings is no protection. Viz: Acklington, Stradishall, Chiv. etc.

[mbga9pgf]

Correct. They only look at potential savings POST closure; any investment prior to closure is immaterial.

[whowhenwhy]

Tend to agree I'm afraid. Prior investment is money already spent. Bean counters only give 2 hoots about money that they can save that's not yet been spent. ISK is bound to go, with the ac re-locating to waddo. Ac footprint problems? Like BEagle said, I don't think so! They want all the ISTAR stuff at Waddo with scopedopes at Scampton. Only option that makes sense is to send all the MR2s and those other things with the wrongshape wing (once they're built) to Waddo from ISK.