Lossie next?
Just give them independence
Well the Scots want independence, here is a chance to make it happen and save some serious cash. But it would have to be full independence, let them provide their own defence etc. I reckon we would save a fortune.
In fact if we did the same to Wales and NI we would be quids in, note the figure in the chart below of £48.4bn
Deficit would be sorted in a year, then we could start spending on defence again
In fact if we did the same to Wales and NI we would be quids in, note the figure in the chart below of £48.4bn
Deficit would be sorted in a year, then we could start spending on defence again
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There seemed to be plenty of demand for an airfield in Moray, judging by the number of aircraft up at both stations for major exercises over recent years (and probably longer, but I wasn't there to see them). Surely Lossie would have a future even with only 2 Tornado Sqns and the resulting unallocated space and facilities supporting the exercises that Kinloss used to host.
Maybe the foreign aircraft meeting our maritime patrol commitments could be permanently based there too...
Maybe the foreign aircraft meeting our maritime patrol commitments could be permanently based there too...
Would the moving of the GR4 necessarily result in the closure of Lossie? N QRA need a mil div, the GR4 sim may be used by a Leuchars-based sqn and as you say, Army or MPA could ensure it's survival. Anyway, I thought we discovered many years ago that closing an airbase actually costs us money (in the short term) due to the relocation expenses alone. 
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Wake-up and Smell the Coffee
Of course Lossie will close. With JSF orders reduced the only place they will go is to Yeovilton to be flown by the Fleet Air Arm again, why on earth would they want their carrier aircraft based in the North of Scotland only to have to embark what is left of an Air Wing off the South Coast.
Just Another Jocky - get with it what MPA? Would you believe it our Maritime Nation has had the wisdom to bin that capability.
As to turning Kinloss and Lossie to Army bases. Same arguement on location applies. The Army only really has one training area that is any good for any of their kit - Salisbury Plain. They will want all of their units near by and easily deployable from Brize International or any other of the Southern Airports that the Transport Aircraft Consortium PLC wish to operate from, the contract will cost far too much to have them picked up from Scotland.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I fear what are now seeing is the dying throws of the 100 year Air Force experiment
Just Another Jocky - get with it what MPA? Would you believe it our Maritime Nation has had the wisdom to bin that capability.
As to turning Kinloss and Lossie to Army bases. Same arguement on location applies. The Army only really has one training area that is any good for any of their kit - Salisbury Plain. They will want all of their units near by and easily deployable from Brize International or any other of the Southern Airports that the Transport Aircraft Consortium PLC wish to operate from, the contract will cost far too much to have them picked up from Scotland.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I fear what are now seeing is the dying throws of the 100 year Air Force experiment
Just Another Jocky - get with it what MPA?
From post #25
Maybe the foreign aircraft meeting our maritime patrol commitments could be permanently based there too...
That MPA!
Thread Starter
Maybe if the RAF is going heavily down the UAV/RPV/drone (whatever they are called this week) route in the years to come then they should be looking to base them somewhere with relatively clear airspace, where training flights (presuming there are any) are less of an issue...... such as Lossie perhaps?
Thread Starter
n/a
While my knowledge of RPVs is very limited I thought that there was a requirement for a recognised pilot (instrument rating, etc) to operate it in the vicinity of controlled airspace. I could be wrong.
While the Army operate the pint sized, elastic band wound up, RPVs that just go up a few hundred feet and look over the next hill, street, etc, the RAF currently operate the big toys. I was under the impression that is not about to change in the near term.
No doubt some expert in UAVs (39 Sqn maybe) will provide more detailed insight, if anyone with that background can be bothered to read a thread on Lossie.....
While my knowledge of RPVs is very limited I thought that there was a requirement for a recognised pilot (instrument rating, etc) to operate it in the vicinity of controlled airspace. I could be wrong.
While the Army operate the pint sized, elastic band wound up, RPVs that just go up a few hundred feet and look over the next hill, street, etc, the RAF currently operate the big toys. I was under the impression that is not about to change in the near term.
No doubt some expert in UAVs (39 Sqn maybe) will provide more detailed insight, if anyone with that background can be bothered to read a thread on Lossie.....
Unit size
As a scribbler there's one thing that occurs to me. Whilst people are talking about squadrons, no one is talking about the number of jets on those squadrons, are they?
If you cut down on the numbers of jets per unit, that would make it much easier to squeeze six squadrons into one base, wouldn't it?
I don't think anyone is absolutely certain that Marham is 'safe' just yet. The great thing about aircarft is that they are mobile....
Has anyone thought that they could move the Tornados back to Cottesmore?
The only certainty is that nothing is certain anymore.....
If you cut down on the numbers of jets per unit, that would make it much easier to squeeze six squadrons into one base, wouldn't it?
I don't think anyone is absolutely certain that Marham is 'safe' just yet. The great thing about aircarft is that they are mobile....
Has anyone thought that they could move the Tornados back to Cottesmore?
The only certainty is that nothing is certain anymore.....
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Is it sensible to concentrate all 'front line'* RAF bases up and down the A1(?)
*Apologies to those folk who will be flying out of BZN in a couple of years time.
*Apologies to those folk who will be flying out of BZN in a couple of years time.
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It would be sad to see HMS Fulmar close but as always it is inevitable....Unless the RAF can wrestle up a few more aircraft to fly from their it doesn't make commercial sense to keep it open.
I don't think anyone is absolutely certain that Marham is 'safe' just yet. The great thing about aircarft is that they are mobile....
Has anyone thought that they could move the Tornados back to Cottesmore?
The only certainty is that nothing is certain anymore.....
Has anyone thought that they could move the Tornados back to Cottesmore?
The only certainty is that nothing is certain anymore.....
