Which RAF Stations will Go.
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IMO Lossiemouth and Kinloss should be both be cut and amalgamated with only one base surviving.
Morayshire was of strategic importance during the cold war but this threat is no longer relevant.
Whilst I am glad Leuchars is now secure as a future Eurofighter base, I think the argument for keeping two bases in such a desolate and isolated area now that there is little threat is contary to the new quick reaction doctrine.
Morayshire was of strategic importance during the cold war but this threat is no longer relevant.
Whilst I am glad Leuchars is now secure as a future Eurofighter base, I think the argument for keeping two bases in such a desolate and isolated area now that there is little threat is contary to the new quick reaction doctrine.
PrOOne
I live near enough to Benson that my summer nights will be undisturbed when it closes. My house will be worth a good £20,000 more - overnight. But that doesn't make it right to close it. And I can't complain, cos the presence of Benson made my house affordable when I bought it.
From a selfish point of view, close it tomorrow. From a wider perspective, keep it, add to my discomfort by adding Chinooks, etc.
I live near enough to Benson that my summer nights will be undisturbed when it closes. My house will be worth a good £20,000 more - overnight. But that doesn't make it right to close it. And I can't complain, cos the presence of Benson made my house affordable when I bought it.
From a selfish point of view, close it tomorrow. From a wider perspective, keep it, add to my discomfort by adding Chinooks, etc.
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As OC Admin at Benson up until 93 I had a HUGE budget to refurbish the place, hangars, runway, messes etc etc ready for a multiplicity of new units.
Felt sure that it was merely a precursor to closing the place in 94!
Felt sure that it was merely a precursor to closing the place in 94!
BEagle
Thanx for putting me straight on that. Although I haven't got a fcuking clue what language you're talking (so you know I'm not a pilot). I was exploiting the 'rumour' part of PPRuNe. Next time I'll just get my office colleague to make the tea rather than tell me what's bugging him about basing the EuroHerc. hvdrifter seems to speak your language.
Back to which bases should close..... anyone care to explain how the Yanks can operate 95 x F15 out of Lakenheath? vs maximum base loading at any single RAF station.
And finally.......watching the sun rise over Baghdad on my morning run I thought "Cranwell's got a pool and a running track and a runway or 2'. So maybe that's one for my list. (Note 1 for my list....still waiting for a number 2)
And whilst I at it if PTC goes that leaves STC and nothing else. So STC = RAF. New name for the Hobbit Hole on the Hill?
Thanx for putting me straight on that. Although I haven't got a fcuking clue what language you're talking (so you know I'm not a pilot). I was exploiting the 'rumour' part of PPRuNe. Next time I'll just get my office colleague to make the tea rather than tell me what's bugging him about basing the EuroHerc. hvdrifter seems to speak your language.
Back to which bases should close..... anyone care to explain how the Yanks can operate 95 x F15 out of Lakenheath? vs maximum base loading at any single RAF station.
And finally.......watching the sun rise over Baghdad on my morning run I thought "Cranwell's got a pool and a running track and a runway or 2'. So maybe that's one for my list. (Note 1 for my list....still waiting for a number 2)
And whilst I at it if PTC goes that leaves STC and nothing else. So STC = RAF. New name for the Hobbit Hole on the Hill?
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Styron,
Couldn’t agree with you more, there is no need whatsoever to keep Lossie and Kinloss. Now that millions has been spent on Kinloss and all of its buildings look nice and new I can’t help feeling that it will be the one for the chop! Lets face it, Lossie needs tens of millions of pounds spending on it to bring it up to a good standard and is (in the case of the Sgts Mess) literally falling apart. Wonder which one they would close?
Couldn’t agree with you more, there is no need whatsoever to keep Lossie and Kinloss. Now that millions has been spent on Kinloss and all of its buildings look nice and new I can’t help feeling that it will be the one for the chop! Lets face it, Lossie needs tens of millions of pounds spending on it to bring it up to a good standard and is (in the case of the Sgts Mess) literally falling apart. Wonder which one they would close?
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Totally agree RIS not RAS.
They can not justify cutting or closing Leeming whilst keeping two large stations in the Scottish Highlands.
Surely it would be better to close Lossie and move the GR4's to Leeming.
I also think that Cottesmore and Wittering may be amalgamated on to one site and that Odiham and Benson may be moved to one helicoper site, possibly Yeovilton as part of the JHC.
Here's an article regarding base closure rumours from earlier this year.
BASE CLOSURE RUMOUR MILL ON OVERTIME :
Ever since the announcement of drastic cuts in spending in the Defence White Paper published late last year, rumours have been abound of base closures, type withdrawals and reduction in manpower.
Recently several national newspapers have hinted at some of the cuts, with one report stating that defence chiefs had been told to "expect extreme pain", indicating that the cuts will be the biggest since the end of the Cold War.
Many of the rumours circulating have no foundation, whilst some forecasted closures have come from within the ranks of the RAF itself. If current rumours are to believed, Leeming in North Yorkshire is a prime candidate for possible closure, especially if the Typhoon programme is curtailed. This, coupled with information that Leeming-based 100 Squadron is apparently due to relocate to Scampton, has added fuel to the rumours.
Other bases mooted for closure include Wittering, with the entire Harrier Force being located at Cottesmore; Linton-on-Ouse, with all basic and advanced pilot training being carried out at Valley, but with a possible reduction in aircraft numbers and staffing; Coltishall, with the entire Jaguar fleet being withdrawn; Lossiemouth, with either a relocation of some assets plus a reduction in frontline strength of the Tornado GR.4 force; and Benson or Odiham, with a consolidation of support helicopter assets at either of the two airfields. One base already earmarked for closure is Lyneham, with the Hercules fleet relocating to Brize Norton by the end of the decade.
Bases allegedly "safe" from closure include those which have seen extensive spending on modernisation and infrastructure, such as Coningsby, where the first Typhoon squadrons will be located; Waddington, home of the RAF's Air Warfare Centre as well as the RAF's Sentry and future Sentinel ASTOR squadrons; and Cranwell, home of the RAF College.
However, The Times last week reported on how the defence secretary Geoff Hoon has written to Tony Blair complaining that Treasury demands for a £1.2
billion cut in defence spending plans will put at risk "current and future" military operations. Defence chiefs are understood to have said that spending constraints on the scale demanded by the Treasury would make "current and future operational commitments unmanageable". Such warnings come at a very sensitive time for the Government, not least because Mr Blair has made a priority of maintaining good relations with the Armed Forces throughout the past year.
However, it is possible that suggested cuts might be politically unacceptable, such as a reduction in the number of Eurofighters for the RAF, as Britain is committed to that programme along with Germany, Spain and Italy, and there would be penalties both for the British taxpayer and for industry.
We will all just have to wait and see...........
They can not justify cutting or closing Leeming whilst keeping two large stations in the Scottish Highlands.
Surely it would be better to close Lossie and move the GR4's to Leeming.
I also think that Cottesmore and Wittering may be amalgamated on to one site and that Odiham and Benson may be moved to one helicoper site, possibly Yeovilton as part of the JHC.
Here's an article regarding base closure rumours from earlier this year.
BASE CLOSURE RUMOUR MILL ON OVERTIME :
Ever since the announcement of drastic cuts in spending in the Defence White Paper published late last year, rumours have been abound of base closures, type withdrawals and reduction in manpower.
Recently several national newspapers have hinted at some of the cuts, with one report stating that defence chiefs had been told to "expect extreme pain", indicating that the cuts will be the biggest since the end of the Cold War.
Many of the rumours circulating have no foundation, whilst some forecasted closures have come from within the ranks of the RAF itself. If current rumours are to believed, Leeming in North Yorkshire is a prime candidate for possible closure, especially if the Typhoon programme is curtailed. This, coupled with information that Leeming-based 100 Squadron is apparently due to relocate to Scampton, has added fuel to the rumours.
Other bases mooted for closure include Wittering, with the entire Harrier Force being located at Cottesmore; Linton-on-Ouse, with all basic and advanced pilot training being carried out at Valley, but with a possible reduction in aircraft numbers and staffing; Coltishall, with the entire Jaguar fleet being withdrawn; Lossiemouth, with either a relocation of some assets plus a reduction in frontline strength of the Tornado GR.4 force; and Benson or Odiham, with a consolidation of support helicopter assets at either of the two airfields. One base already earmarked for closure is Lyneham, with the Hercules fleet relocating to Brize Norton by the end of the decade.
Bases allegedly "safe" from closure include those which have seen extensive spending on modernisation and infrastructure, such as Coningsby, where the first Typhoon squadrons will be located; Waddington, home of the RAF's Air Warfare Centre as well as the RAF's Sentry and future Sentinel ASTOR squadrons; and Cranwell, home of the RAF College.
However, The Times last week reported on how the defence secretary Geoff Hoon has written to Tony Blair complaining that Treasury demands for a £1.2
billion cut in defence spending plans will put at risk "current and future" military operations. Defence chiefs are understood to have said that spending constraints on the scale demanded by the Treasury would make "current and future operational commitments unmanageable". Such warnings come at a very sensitive time for the Government, not least because Mr Blair has made a priority of maintaining good relations with the Armed Forces throughout the past year.
However, it is possible that suggested cuts might be politically unacceptable, such as a reduction in the number of Eurofighters for the RAF, as Britain is committed to that programme along with Germany, Spain and Italy, and there would be penalties both for the British taxpayer and for industry.
We will all just have to wait and see...........
