RAF base awaits fighter decision
Well, plank dear, Valley was virtually free of talking-TACAN oxygen thieves, for one thing. Just the ones on the Whirlwinds.
I must admit to being somewhat mystified at the current hatred of the place - we had a great time when I was there. And that was when there was only 1 bridge off the island and you had to drive through Bangor to get to the mostly single lane A5. Nowadays there's a dual carriageway all the way to England.
And 6Z3, remember the legs on Dragon Room Mary? I'll bet you do....
I must admit to being somewhat mystified at the current hatred of the place - we had a great time when I was there. And that was when there was only 1 bridge off the island and you had to drive through Bangor to get to the mostly single lane A5. Nowadays there's a dual carriageway all the way to England.
And 6Z3, remember the legs on Dragon Room Mary? I'll bet you do....
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"But these days it's a grunt base where squaddies learn to drive lorries by numbers."
Non.
It is derelict. RAF Leconfield is the sole place (fish joke anyone?), and is tri service to boot. Blue jobs learn truck mashing there too.
Correct me if I am wrong here, but it was a highly foresighted individual or committee that came up with the 30s expansion period design of aerodrome. All the places that are/have been closed in the last 30 years are of this type. I.e bloody useful. No-one would complain if Netheravon was swapped for Coltishall on the grim reaper list.
As an aside, Upavon was the oldest station in the RAF when I was there. Went back years later on Army course. Middleton block was the RAChD HQ. Yes, I do know why it was called "Middleton". Bloody disgrace. Place was a shambles.
Grrr!
Non.
It is derelict. RAF Leconfield is the sole place (fish joke anyone?), and is tri service to boot. Blue jobs learn truck mashing there too.
Correct me if I am wrong here, but it was a highly foresighted individual or committee that came up with the 30s expansion period design of aerodrome. All the places that are/have been closed in the last 30 years are of this type. I.e bloody useful. No-one would complain if Netheravon was swapped for Coltishall on the grim reaper list.
As an aside, Upavon was the oldest station in the RAF when I was there. Went back years later on Army course. Middleton block was the RAChD HQ. Yes, I do know why it was called "Middleton". Bloody disgrace. Place was a shambles.
Grrr!
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It appears you kids can't remember Driffield
At least my Alma Mater (Halton) is still open - almost.
When I joined up there were more overseas bases* to be posted to than there are UK bases today. There were about 110,000 more of us to serve there though.
*Lots of them were sh*teholes mind...
Last edited by Blacksheep; 18th Nov 2005 at 02:50.
Cadet gliding is hardly in the same league, worthwhile though it undoubtedly is...
When I fist rattled along the A46 in my 100E Anglia, Jet Provost flying at Syerston was in full swing and the station was as busy as most.
But even back in 1978, some 10 years later, the old station looked like a ghost town and was slowly crumbling away...
When I fist rattled along the A46 in my 100E Anglia, Jet Provost flying at Syerston was in full swing and the station was as busy as most.
But even back in 1978, some 10 years later, the old station looked like a ghost town and was slowly crumbling away...
Gentleman Aviator
Syerston is still open
Wymeswold
...... you tell that ter the young folk today and they'll not believe yer........
in my 100E Anglia
... at least I had an MG TC in those days.....
The Anglebox was inherited from the family business - we'd had it since 1958! 0-60 in about 29 seconds when new and still blessed with all of its 36 bhp. Flat out it would allegedly do 73 mph if you could stand the racket and vibration.
Eventually it was sold at auction for £15 - a pile of railway sleepers from the old Taunton - Chard railway line went for £16!
However, when I went back to Cranwell after university, I did so in a 3 year old MG Midget! Even that had boasted a mere 65 bhp...and 0-60 was a leisurely 14.6 seconds!
So many names of once proud RAF flying stations being recalled on this thread - and many were still active in the 60s and 70s; we've not even mentioned the likes of Weston Zoyland etc from the 1950s.
Eventually it was sold at auction for £15 - a pile of railway sleepers from the old Taunton - Chard railway line went for £16!
However, when I went back to Cranwell after university, I did so in a 3 year old MG Midget! Even that had boasted a mere 65 bhp...and 0-60 was a leisurely 14.6 seconds!
So many names of once proud RAF flying stations being recalled on this thread - and many were still active in the 60s and 70s; we've not even mentioned the likes of Weston Zoyland etc from the 1950s.
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As St M is no longer reqd, does that mean our burger eating cousins from across the pond are no longer there too..??
Also, surely more SAR is carried out in the Atlantic than the coastal waters of Scotland ????
How long before QBM is no longer reqd as the airport has International status. It will be easy to use in the future !!!
Also, surely more SAR is carried out in the Atlantic than the coastal waters of Scotland ????
How long before QBM is no longer reqd as the airport has International status. It will be easy to use in the future !!!
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What a coincidence....
Adam Ingram, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, is Armed Forces Minister.
Dr John Reid, MP for Hamilton North & Bellshill, is Secretary of State for Defence.
Gordon Brown, MP for Dunfermline East is Chancellor of the Exchequer.
....and so an excellent base in Cornwall is effectively ruled out, whilst the porridge-wog bases are promised lots of jobs and future investment.
I smell a deep-fried Mars bar plot.
Adam Ingram, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, is Armed Forces Minister.
Dr John Reid, MP for Hamilton North & Bellshill, is Secretary of State for Defence.
Gordon Brown, MP for Dunfermline East is Chancellor of the Exchequer.
....and so an excellent base in Cornwall is effectively ruled out, whilst the porridge-wog bases are promised lots of jobs and future investment.
I smell a deep-fried Mars bar plot.
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"What a coincidence....
Adam Ingram, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, is Armed Forces Minister.
Dr John Reid, MP for Hamilton North & Bellshill, is Secretary of State for Defence.
Gordon Brown, MP for Dunfermline East is Chancellor of the Exchequer."
Yes, that's nice, but since none of the bases in Scotland are anywhere near any of their consituencies what does it matter?
If one of the bases, say Lossie was to close, Scotland would lose a third of it's Stations. St Mawgan closes and the percentage is a lot smaller.
Adam Ingram, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, is Armed Forces Minister.
Dr John Reid, MP for Hamilton North & Bellshill, is Secretary of State for Defence.
Gordon Brown, MP for Dunfermline East is Chancellor of the Exchequer."
Yes, that's nice, but since none of the bases in Scotland are anywhere near any of their consituencies what does it matter?
If one of the bases, say Lossie was to close, Scotland would lose a third of it's Stations. St Mawgan closes and the percentage is a lot smaller.
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And Kernow is quite small, Scotland's quite big. I'm not trying to justify the closure by any means, just trying to put across the point that maybe it's not a huge conspiracy theory planned by them up north.
Well, sorry, but I'm convinced that some beancounter is being told to maximise the value of whatever they can flog off, and to keep Jocks in jobs. Defence interest coming a long way behind the land value and the labour party fan club's interests.
The loss of St Mawgan would also have a side effect on trans-Atlantic AAR trails as there'd be only Culdrose, Exeter or Cardiff to use for Bracket 1 abort aerodromes.....
How much was spent bringing Leeming up to the state it is today for the F3? A whole new road off the A1, plus gazillions on infrastructure. So guess what - it'll go to the damn dung-eaters like every other half decent base. Abingdon, Chivenor and Wattisham to name but a few.
The loss of St Mawgan would also have a side effect on trans-Atlantic AAR trails as there'd be only Culdrose, Exeter or Cardiff to use for Bracket 1 abort aerodromes.....
How much was spent bringing Leeming up to the state it is today for the F3? A whole new road off the A1, plus gazillions on infrastructure. So guess what - it'll go to the damn dung-eaters like every other half decent base. Abingdon, Chivenor and Wattisham to name but a few.