RAF Station Gate Guardians
Halton also has a Hunter in a rather jaunty red/white/blue colour scheme. (Ex ETPS?)
There is (or was) also another F-4 at a unit that definitely never had any F-4s... Buchan.
Speaking of units that had several, I remember Wyton had 3 different marks of Canberra at one point, though they have been down to just one for many years now.
There is (or was) also another F-4 at a unit that definitely never had any F-4s... Buchan.
Speaking of units that had several, I remember Wyton had 3 different marks of Canberra at one point, though they have been down to just one for many years now.
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The worst one is definitely the Wessex at Aki; flat tyres & broken windows make it look like it belongs in Toxteth! Of course the Whirlwind and Lightning serve to remind the Army here that it is still actually an RAF Unit (alright, it's a PJOB but let's not let facts get in the way)
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There is a Harrier gate guard at Chilwell army barracks for some reason. I don't believe its ever been an RAF unit let alone an airfield.
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There is a Harrier gate guard at Chilwell army barracks for some reason. I don't believe its ever been an RAF unit let alone an airfield
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The first production Tornado GR1 (ZA319) is now the gate guardian of DSDA Bicester, which has no runway. Given that the the two closest airfields (RAF Bicester & RAF Weston-on-the-Green) have grass runways, I know that this aircraft has never been based here. I believe Crash n Smash installed this example about 5-6 years ago.
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Sealand had a Spitfire for many years and then a Hunter...which vanished a few years ago sad to say.
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Back to post 24. Chetwynd Barracks at Chillwell is the home of 529 STRE who provide the designers and project engineers for the infastructure used by the RAF on deployed operations, so perhaps the Harrier does have some relevance.
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WE992 - Ah, makes sense now.
I knew 516 and 517 STRE were at Chetwynd but I wasn't aware of any other teams.
Must say though the Harrier looks very tired.
I knew 516 and 517 STRE were at Chetwynd but I wasn't aware of any other teams.
Must say though the Harrier looks very tired.
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School of Fighter Control at West Drayton closed in about 1991. ISTR the Lightning was there for that, but the WD link to FC goes back further. Linesman etc.
No Runway at Boulmer? Google Earth 55d24'41.5"N001d35'45" suggests otherwise, though it was closer to the coast than the current sites.
I also recall there being a rule that said only one per station and no current types. Of course Leuchars has a Tornado (F2?) and a Phantom.
STH
No Runway at Boulmer? Google Earth 55d24'41.5"N001d35'45" suggests otherwise, though it was closer to the coast than the current sites.
I also recall there being a rule that said only one per station and no current types. Of course Leuchars has a Tornado (F2?) and a Phantom.
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RAF High Wycombe have a plastic Spitfire and a plastic Hurricane. I always thought this was odd choices when the Station is the historic home of Bomber Command and had no affiliation with these fighter aircraft.
Another Army Barracks with a jet is Imjin Barracks. The future NATO ARRC barracks was renamed in Nov 08 and is of course the former RAF Innsworth. The army have retained the Gloster Javelin gateguard when the RAF handed over the site, to honour the local history of this aircraft manufacturer.
Another Army Barracks with a jet is Imjin Barracks. The future NATO ARRC barracks was renamed in Nov 08 and is of course the former RAF Innsworth. The army have retained the Gloster Javelin gateguard when the RAF handed over the site, to honour the local history of this aircraft manufacturer.
Another non-RAF site with a jet is Defence Medical Services Training Centre at Keogh, Aldershot, which has a Hunter. I would like to post a picture, but MoD-plod threatened dire action under the Official Secrets Act if I persisted in taking one. Couldn't see how you'd get a stretcher in it, anyway
RAF Locking had a Folland Gnat which was so rottten it was a risk to the spaceys who had their photo taken under it when they came to visit for Summer Camp.
I recall it being wobbled so much by the little darlings that the rain filled cockpit left a wasp collection tide mark, high on the canopy.
It was auctioned off shortly after, about 1995. A large truck took her away after angle grinding the wing tips off. Made the local TV news.
Sad that the Stn had to lose its gate guard, but even more sad that funds or volunteers could not be found to preserve it. At least the buyer was proud of her and had plans to fix her up as a static display somewhere - I wonder what became of the old bird?
I recall it being wobbled so much by the little darlings that the rain filled cockpit left a wasp collection tide mark, high on the canopy.
It was auctioned off shortly after, about 1995. A large truck took her away after angle grinding the wing tips off. Made the local TV news.
Sad that the Stn had to lose its gate guard, but even more sad that funds or volunteers could not be found to preserve it. At least the buyer was proud of her and had plans to fix her up as a static display somewhere - I wonder what became of the old bird?
Aeronut, a quick Google suggests that the airframe was XM708 and that:
First, it went to the 'Trout Lake Air Force' private collection near Kings Langley, where it ended up in Red Arrows markings.
Then it was sold on to another private owner in Lytham St Annes (see here.
While, finally, this site seems to suggest (from the last updating date) that it subsequently moved on again to reside at Bruntingthorpe with the Cold War Jets collection, although that could be wrong
First, it went to the 'Trout Lake Air Force' private collection near Kings Langley, where it ended up in Red Arrows markings.
Then it was sold on to another private owner in Lytham St Annes (see here.
While, finally, this site seems to suggest (from the last updating date) that it subsequently moved on again to reside at Bruntingthorpe with the Cold War Jets collection, although that could be wrong
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Back in the 80s Lossiemouth had a Gannet left over from the Navy days and a Shackleton left over from.... well actualy they were still flying them and kept nicking parts of it to feed the fleet. They also had a Buccaneer S1 which ended up as part of the 30th anniversary 30 Buccaneer photo (along with every frame they could get out of ASF!).
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During my blunt travels: Staff College Bracknell had a Hunter; Bentley Priory a Hurricane & a Spitfire. No airfield at either location, unless you count the Commandant's Garden at Bracknell...
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Aeronut - The Gnat at RAF Locking was actually (according to some techie bod) in pretty good nick considering its years outside not too far from the sea. It was quite carefully removed with its short stick from the concrete plinth it was sat on, wings removed in an un-doing bolts manner rather than the angle grinder method and was removed from the site with the desire to return it to flight. I know all this as I was the humble SCAF stacker lumbered with the task of arranging all the above (in summer '96 if my beer hammered mind recalls correctly). I can't recall the name or the rank of the seemingly (to me at the time) right hand man of God officer I had to harass in the nicest possible way for a disposal signature but he was paid a damn sight more than me.
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The rules and maintenance policy used to be governed by a GAI, so I suppose it is now in a DIN. It used to be the responsibility of GEF to maintain them and they were registered as GSE, or they certainly were when I was working in GEF (may be some time ago). The reason the plastic ones came in being, was to minimise the cost (easier to just a maintain fibreglass shell and a couple of tyres) and also a certain company who refurbishes spitfires offered a sum of money for the old ones (so I was told at the time). This also explains why we never got the one at Staxton Wold. I remember at the time there was only JJ working in station MEF at the time and I don't think he was too keen on the extra work. Satellite_Driver, if your wondering, I was the JT MEF Heavy on the T91 throughout the 90's (the one with the flat top and big quiff).
Last edited by Sideshow Bob; 10th Mar 2009 at 14:51.