TTTE
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Bury St. Edmunds
Age: 64
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Seeing this post about TTTE and RAF Cottesmore made me think that with Cottesmore's hand over to the army made me think that its closure was pre-mature. Is there not sense in having a multi-national F-35 training base for the European nations that are (supposedly) buying into that procurement?
The UK airspace is still a lot more open to low flying jets than the rest of Europe. The location of Cottesmore was very popular and access to LFA's, ranges etc. pretty good and what with the Harrier legacy there were also pads for Dave B to do VL's. There would also have been a pretty good RLG if one were needed at Wittering. Oh Dear, what a missed opportunity!
Still, its not as though we are short of other recently closed airfields so there may be a reprieve elsewhere. Where do I begin? Coltishall, Leuchars, Kinloss, St. Mawgan.........
Seeing this thread reminded me that we once (not so long ago) actually had an air force, what we have today is a shadow of its former self.
MB
The UK airspace is still a lot more open to low flying jets than the rest of Europe. The location of Cottesmore was very popular and access to LFA's, ranges etc. pretty good and what with the Harrier legacy there were also pads for Dave B to do VL's. There would also have been a pretty good RLG if one were needed at Wittering. Oh Dear, what a missed opportunity!
Still, its not as though we are short of other recently closed airfields so there may be a reprieve elsewhere. Where do I begin? Coltishall, Leuchars, Kinloss, St. Mawgan.........
Seeing this thread reminded me that we once (not so long ago) actually had an air force, what we have today is a shadow of its former self.
MB
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Swamp
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I was a duty grown-up on the day mentioned in the last post and I recall hearing the aircraft crash alarm. When I got to the jet, it turned out the wheels had been retracted by the pilot as he rounded out. I believe the pilot had moved his hand to cancel the rad alt warning which had sounded as he crossed the fence on finals. As his hand started to move, it decided on its own, to retract the gear (the trick cyclist employed by the accident inquiry board concluded it was a cognitive failure). There was an ITN news crew filming at the time and you saw the wheels come up and the jet land smoothly on its belly. It was rather strange afterwards peering into the cockpit without the need for a ladder! However, to clarify the previous post, it was a normal approach until the wheels came up. The jet was eventually repaired.
Anyway it was a fantastic instructional tour in a superb part of the country - happy days!
Anyway it was a fantastic instructional tour in a superb part of the country - happy days!
