DHFS TO YEOVILTON?
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DHFS TO YEOVILTON?
Having left 18 months ago I heard a rumour last week that seemed to suggest that Shawbury would close within 5 years and that all RW training would move to Yeovilton, good or bad?
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Good rumour to start:- provided that the land is returned to the Corbett family and not given over to the pongos. North Shropshire is one of the UKs best kept secrets, and it would be nice if it stayed that way.
On a more serious point:- Why would anyone even consider leaving a dedicated Rotary Wing base that is inclusive of the goodwill of many local landowners who provide training fields and clearings and that has little appeal to the FJ/Multi Eng communities for a 'mixed wing' operating base that would be intolerant of No RT flying operations and frankly has a busy enough job to do supporting Navy assets already?
Forgot:- Shawbury has a new gym.... that's it then - closure it is. But be sure to resurface the runway first, that's the law.
On a more serious point:- Why would anyone even consider leaving a dedicated Rotary Wing base that is inclusive of the goodwill of many local landowners who provide training fields and clearings and that has little appeal to the FJ/Multi Eng communities for a 'mixed wing' operating base that would be intolerant of No RT flying operations and frankly has a busy enough job to do supporting Navy assets already?
Forgot:- Shawbury has a new gym.... that's it then - closure it is. But be sure to resurface the runway first, that's the law.
Red On, Green On
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Yozzer - CU managed quite well in the 60s, 70s and 80s with at least as much traffic, and pretty varied too. Simultaneous LH and RH circuits, tyro pilots on 705, etc.
OK, we had Predannack, but VL has Merryfield too.
OK, we had Predannack, but VL has Merryfield too.
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Isn't Shawbury the RAF's oldest airfield? I seem to recall the last time this was mentioned CAS went straight to Def Sec to plead no closure. Anyway DFHS to Yeovilton is a silly idea.
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"Forgot:- Shawbury has a new gym.... that's it then - closure it is. But be sure to resurface the runway first, that's the law."
When did they relax the law? You used to have to build a couple of HAS sites before you could close down a base.
When did they relax the law? You used to have to build a couple of HAS sites before you could close down a base.
Shawbury started in 1917 - there are plenty older than that. For example RAF Halton celebrated its 'Centenary of Flight' last year with the first flight by 3 Sqn RFC (forerunner of 3(F) Sqn) from Halton Park on 18 Sep 1913 - they've been flying there ever since. Middle Wallop is older but is obviously under control of the 'brown side'.
LJ
LJ
Originally Posted by Leon Jabachjabicz
Middle Wallop is older but is obviously under control of the 'brown side'.
Originally Posted by Leon Jabachjabicz
To add to the list Wittering 1916 and Cranwell 1915.
LOPCOMBE CORNER:51 07 06N/01 38 37W.Site of an RFC airfield 1918/1919.
Situated right on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border and refered to by various publications as being in either county,it is included here
for the sake of completeness.
Used only for a short time.the only known units were 52 Sq,74 Sq,85,Sq.91 Sq,all of which arrived as cadres on the following dates-
28/6/19,10/2/19,19/2/19 and 7/3/19.All were then disbanded on the following dates 23/10/19(52 Sq),and 3/7/19(all others).
Equipment at the time was RE8(52 Sq),SE5A(74 and 85 Sq),Dolphin(91 Sq) .The aerodrome was listed in "Flight" Sept 4th 1919 as available for emergency civilian use.(or a location in the immediate vicinity)
was used by US Army L-4 Liason aircraft.
Situated right on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border and refered to by various publications as being in either county,it is included here
for the sake of completeness.
Used only for a short time.the only known units were 52 Sq,74 Sq,85,Sq.91 Sq,all of which arrived as cadres on the following dates-
28/6/19,10/2/19,19/2/19 and 7/3/19.All were then disbanded on the following dates 23/10/19(52 Sq),and 3/7/19(all others).
Equipment at the time was RE8(52 Sq),SE5A(74 and 85 Sq),Dolphin(91 Sq) .The aerodrome was listed in "Flight" Sept 4th 1919 as available for emergency civilian use.(or a location in the immediate vicinity)
was used by US Army L-4 Liason aircraft.
Hampshire Aviation Locations H to M
Red On, Green On
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MtM - CU would be a lousy place to site DHFS. The Culdrose clag sets in for weeks at a time and while it's a great place from June to September, the Western tip of Cornwall really isn't much of a billet for the winter months.
I expect to see the announcement of DHFS moving to Helston International very soon therefore
I expect to see the announcement of DHFS moving to Helston International very soon therefore
It would appear there is a fair bit of capacity at CU at the moment anyway, irrespective of the handful of SK ops that occur... very little flying a lot of the time.
Weather not great for flying training at CU - or should I say there are airfields with spare capacity with better weather conditions than CU...
Weather not great for flying training at CU - or should I say there are airfields with spare capacity with better weather conditions than CU...
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If one dare mention it, there's a lot of high-tech infrastructure associated with the Central Air Traffic Control School that won't fit on the back of a 4-tonner.
Numerous Simulators for Local, Airfield and Area Radar that cost many, many, millions. Not as simple as some might think, IMO.
Numerous Simulators for Local, Airfield and Area Radar that cost many, many, millions. Not as simple as some might think, IMO.
Red On, Green On
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All the more reason to close Shawbs then MPN11 - think of the recently-retired SOs whose new employers will make a bundle from the contracts awarded 