RAF Leuchars
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Ahh the old deception... feed the media speculation that you're going to close loads of bases, allow the arguments and counter arguments to run and run, do nothing to counter any of the speculation, and that way when you only close 3 or 4 bases you're seen as the good guys who saved the air force and all their bases!
Nobody seems to have connected this thread to the one stating that the RAF will only have 6 FJ Sqns by 2020.... How many bases will 6 FJ Sqns need? Not many...
The closure of Leuchars, or Lossie, will be but the latest in a contining line of closures. Marham will go with the retirement of the GR4 fleet, etc. For many RAF bases in the years to come it will be a case of not "if", but rather "when".
A sad, but seemingly inevitable, state of affairs!
The closure of Leuchars, or Lossie, will be but the latest in a contining line of closures. Marham will go with the retirement of the GR4 fleet, etc. For many RAF bases in the years to come it will be a case of not "if", but rather "when".
A sad, but seemingly inevitable, state of affairs!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
And you need runways. Not just for the old combat redundancy but domestic things like WEATHER. If you have only one Scottish base then you have to rely on all the civilian airfield or hold buckets of fuel for diversion.
Mind you, as there is no war on now (Cold War in Fortress Britain) then there is really no reason to press on in bad weather. Sure, a course output date may slip - so what? What is so essential that a course meets its output date?
Maybe we can switch to good weather training.
Mind you, as there is no war on now (Cold War in Fortress Britain) then there is really no reason to press on in bad weather. Sure, a course output date may slip - so what? What is so essential that a course meets its output date?
Maybe we can switch to good weather training.
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My point about the Typhoon not being as busy as the F3 is based on the precedent set by the drawdown of F3 and the early retirement of Nimrod. Both cases show that with a marked reduction, (stoppage in the case of Nimrod from ISK) the world still turns.
So, one might say that the reduction of "usage" ( to determine these base closures/aircraft levels) has been driven by the very potential foe that these assets were meant to counter.
HMM, some might also say, it's not rocket science, IS IT?
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Nostradamus eat yer heart out.
GladRag, are you suggesting that the "enemy" have watered down their probing to allow the MOD to be convinced there is no threat so that UK Air Defence will be run down into a state that will take years to rebuild, simply to allow the enemy to be able to over run us? Surely not?
Anyway, whatever will be, will be. The only certainty is honours and rewards all round, at the top table anyway.
We can dredge all this up next winter when the dust has settled, but my colours are nailed firmly to this mast: Leuchars to run down, possibly to C&M but more likey non mil use, and Lossie to be all of RAF Scotland. St. Andrews as a Garrison town is a horrible thought.
RAF Prestwick to be split to send D&D to Swanwick, with the ARCC, and the rest of them to Boulmer to share the Hotspur facilities, like we used to do.
Let's hope I'm wrong.
Anyone else want to state a prediction for what might be left of the RAF by December 2011?
Anyway, whatever will be, will be. The only certainty is honours and rewards all round, at the top table anyway.
We can dredge all this up next winter when the dust has settled, but my colours are nailed firmly to this mast: Leuchars to run down, possibly to C&M but more likey non mil use, and Lossie to be all of RAF Scotland. St. Andrews as a Garrison town is a horrible thought.
RAF Prestwick to be split to send D&D to Swanwick, with the ARCC, and the rest of them to Boulmer to share the Hotspur facilities, like we used to do.
Let's hope I'm wrong.
Anyone else want to state a prediction for what might be left of the RAF by December 2011?
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That article is already out of date Harryhawk, there is still no certainty one way or the other, apart from press speculation and scare-mongering.
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I think you will find synthetic trainers have been up and running at Leuchars for some time now, what you mentioned ATFQ, is the full mission simulator, which still requires a new building to put it in, be that at Leuchars or Lossie, and that will take several years to produce 
And you need runways. Not just for the old combat redundancy but domestic things like WEATHER. If you have only one Scottish base then you have to rely on all the civilian airfield or hold buckets of fuel for diversion.
- Kinloss disposed of entirely
- Lossiemouth retained
- Leuchars given to army but retained as RLG - can be sold to public and local MPs as "saved"
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I predict Dundee airport being closed and operations moving to Leuchars. A great chance to compete with the BAA airports at Aberdeen and Edinburgh which is in the national (UK and Scottish) interest. They might even tempt some North Sea helicopter operations from Aberdeen.
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2011 Leuchars Airshow?
Last edited by ATFQ; 5th Jun 2016 at 07:18.