RAF Little Rissington
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On the Manston option ... yes it has a long runway ... but no viable communication routes into London ... without considerable investment. Also the prevailing wind conditions have always favoured the grass runway of 24/06.
Various propositions have also been put forward to turn Lydd into an International Airport ... agin no viable communication routes ... and too many sheep that glow in the dark
Various propositions have also been put forward to turn Lydd into an International Airport ... agin no viable communication routes ... and too many sheep that glow in the dark
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The real scandal of Little Rissington is the failure to preserve one of the best untouched "Expansion Period" sites in the UK. There has been no modern development at Rissy since CFS departed in 1976 - it was untouched by the 21st Century. Similar Cotswold airfields at Kemble and Hullavington were listed several years ago - why not this gem? For more than half a century the C Hangars have been a part of the Cotswold landscape. Now they are about to be replaced by a mini-Milton Keynes! No doubt the new residents will complain about the aviation activity on the surviving airfield!
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Oh My God!
I was on exchange there in 1976 when it closed. Lived on station for three years. Looks like the station and I have deteriorated at equal rates. So sad! Thanks for the pics.
Rissy. I did admin officer for 637 VGS for their first continuous Vigilant course in '91.(they had only flown them weekends prior to this)
We started getting noise complaints from one of the new houses on the road which runs along the western boundary. The CO phoned the local Parish council to apologise, and was asked who the complainant was. They said the complainer was known to them and was BA Cabin crew! Furthermore they had no objection to flying being carried out at Rissy and please refer any further complaints to them!
As for alternatives, no one has mentioned Wisley. Good road communications via A3 and M25 both adjacent; railway line at Woking not too far away; 2000m runway still in situ but presently partially blocked by Armco barriers 'protecting' several public rights of way; there's even a VOR/DME on the airfield.
We started getting noise complaints from one of the new houses on the road which runs along the western boundary. The CO phoned the local Parish council to apologise, and was asked who the complainant was. They said the complainer was known to them and was BA Cabin crew! Furthermore they had no objection to flying being carried out at Rissy and please refer any further complaints to them!
As for alternatives, no one has mentioned Wisley. Good road communications via A3 and M25 both adjacent; railway line at Woking not too far away; 2000m runway still in situ but presently partially blocked by Armco barriers 'protecting' several public rights of way; there's even a VOR/DME on the airfield.
Last edited by chevvron; 3rd Aug 2013 at 22:57.
I'm a bit surprised nobody has mentioned the synonyms for Rissy -'Hell-on-the-Hill', 'Dump on the Lump'.
Rissy CAVOK, all the divs red in fog. Divs clear, Rissy goes out in stratus
Don't get me going on Exam Wing. 'You have failed - E2, no light E2A, white light, E2B, red light. Everybody kno that.'
London Airport expansion - Schipol.
wets (cfs)
Rissy CAVOK, all the divs red in fog. Divs clear, Rissy goes out in stratus
Don't get me going on Exam Wing. 'You have failed - E2, no light E2A, white light, E2B, red light. Everybody kno that.'
London Airport expansion - Schipol.
wets (cfs)
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Little Rissington
Very sad to hear it. Did my first flight in an Avro Anson many years ago(more than I care to remember). CFS also operated out of Rissington usingpiston Provo’s with side by side seating. I also remember Vampires operating. Theymust not be demolishing all the buildings/hangers otherwise where do the ATCstore their Vigilant’s or are they living on borrowed time like many otherGliding Squadrons in the UK?
Regrettably Airfields are a thing of the past, as profits for the buildingcompanies takes precedence over training for the future of Aviation.
There are no RAF Airfields left in the North West(Woodvale living on borrowed time).
Regrettably Airfields are a thing of the past, as profits for the buildingcompanies takes precedence over training for the future of Aviation.
There are no RAF Airfields left in the North West(Woodvale living on borrowed time).
Three runways at once
Manston in the 70's was the same
Civilian traffic and jets on the asphalt , Chipmunks on the grass at 30 degrees to the main runway and gliders of 617VGS on the Northern Grass as I think it was called
Civilian traffic and jets on the asphalt , Chipmunks on the grass at 30 degrees to the main runway and gliders of 617VGS on the Northern Grass as I think it was called
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As far as I can find out, it was a myth.
There was a surface building, covered in earth which acted as a medical facility but it was small. Two of the C hangars were kitted out to become a contingency hospital, half was actually unpacked and assembled, and the other packed ready for air shipment.
I have recently learned that the Devonair Hangars were used for storage to support medical stores and mortuary.
My information is only as good as what I discovered. to date it is written replies but regrettably no photographs. If anyone has seen any of this I would really like to to be corrected.
Same goes for the underground hospital at Upper Heyford.
Ian
There was a surface building, covered in earth which acted as a medical facility but it was small. Two of the C hangars were kitted out to become a contingency hospital, half was actually unpacked and assembled, and the other packed ready for air shipment.
I have recently learned that the Devonair Hangars were used for storage to support medical stores and mortuary.
My information is only as good as what I discovered. to date it is written replies but regrettably no photographs. If anyone has seen any of this I would really like to to be corrected.
Same goes for the underground hospital at Upper Heyford.
Ian
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Ref: Underground Nuclear-proof Hospital
As far as I can find out, it was a myth.
There was a surface building, covered in earth which acted as a medical facility but it was small. Two of the C hangars were kitted out to become a contingency hospital, half was actually unpacked and assembled, and the other packed ready for air shipment.
I have recently learned that the Devonair Hangars were used for storage to support medical stores and mortuary.
My information is only as good as what I discovered. to date it is written replies but regrettably no photographs. If anyone has seen any of this I would really like to to be corrected.
Our colleague WILD ROVER knows this site better than most and might help me here.
Same goes for the underground hospital at Upper Heyford.
Ian
There was a surface building, covered in earth which acted as a medical facility but it was small. Two of the C hangars were kitted out to become a contingency hospital, half was actually unpacked and assembled, and the other packed ready for air shipment.
I have recently learned that the Devonair Hangars were used for storage to support medical stores and mortuary.
My information is only as good as what I discovered. to date it is written replies but regrettably no photographs. If anyone has seen any of this I would really like to to be corrected.
Our colleague WILD ROVER knows this site better than most and might help me here.
Same goes for the underground hospital at Upper Heyford.
Ian
Re: London Cranfield
In 1987 or early 1988 Britannia flew a Boeing 767-200 into Cranfield with a group of new 'cadets' who'd signed up for the sponsored pilots programme in conjunction with CABair ( I think it was). We took pictures of the students and a CAB air Grumman trainer. IIRC, I believe I flew up in the Britannia Flying Club Mooney to supervise photography.
Captain was C**** N*****. He explained that the late little 'jink' in the final approach was due to a small amount of confusion between approach lights and the nearby M1 lighting!
The picture is in a copy of Britannia News, a few of which still exist in Ppruners attics.
In 1987 or early 1988 Britannia flew a Boeing 767-200 into Cranfield with a group of new 'cadets' who'd signed up for the sponsored pilots programme in conjunction with CABair ( I think it was). We took pictures of the students and a CAB air Grumman trainer. IIRC, I believe I flew up in the Britannia Flying Club Mooney to supervise photography.
Captain was C**** N*****. He explained that the late little 'jink' in the final approach was due to a small amount of confusion between approach lights and the nearby M1 lighting!
The picture is in a copy of Britannia News, a few of which still exist in Ppruners attics.
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Road access to Bruntingthorpe was abysmal. last time I went there. I queued to get into a Cold War Jets Open Day and gave up having moved 400 yards in 30 minutes.
RAF Little Riss is having a brand new 56 bed accommodation built adjacent to the Vigilant hangar.
Does anyone know when the Vigilants will fly again from Rissi?
Shame that Devonair could not make a go of it in the "blister" hangars.
Last of the 4 C-type hangers due for demolition this month. www.raflittlerissington.co.uk - not had much time to add content.
Does anyone know when the Vigilants will fly again from Rissi?
Shame that Devonair could not make a go of it in the "blister" hangars.
Last of the 4 C-type hangers due for demolition this month. www.raflittlerissington.co.uk - not had much time to add content.
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Book
" /> RAF Little Rissington: The Central Flying School, 1946 - 1976
15 Jun 2006by R. Deacon and A. Pollock
Is a good book, I have the Kindle version and great color photos from the years gone by.
Worth a very good read,
cheers
