Manston Airport : Possible Closure
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For those Members interested ... the saga continues 
BBC News - Manston Airport bidder says cargo is the way forward
Coff.
Originally Posted by BBC News
A US businessman who had three bids to buy Manston Airport turned down has said he can secure £20m to reopen it.
Stephen de Nardo, of US investment firm RiverOak, said the focus on passenger services in the past had been wrong and cargo was now the way forward.
Stephen de Nardo, of US investment firm RiverOak, said the focus on passenger services in the past had been wrong and cargo was now the way forward.
Coff.
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I still say use the monies that was going to have been blown on Boris's airport to develop it and put in a high speed road and rail link, at least its got a runway and is on land already without the need to build an island to put it on.
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Latest update ...
More here ...
Manston Airport Sold
Coff.
Originally Posted by Thanet Gazette
Manston airport has been sold to the firm behind the Discovery Park at Richborough it has just been announced - apparently ending hopes that it will reopen as an airport.
Trevor Cartner and Chris Musgrave have bought a majority interest in the 800-acre site from owner Ann Gloag.
The partnership has experience of large-scale regeneration projects and is part of the Discovery Park consortium at the former Pfizer facility in Sandwich.
The new owners envisage a £1 billion redevelopment of the 800-acre site, over a 20-years into a mixed-use scheme which they claim will help to create more than 4,000 jobs.
Trevor Cartner and Chris Musgrave have bought a majority interest in the 800-acre site from owner Ann Gloag.
The partnership has experience of large-scale regeneration projects and is part of the Discovery Park consortium at the former Pfizer facility in Sandwich.
The new owners envisage a £1 billion redevelopment of the 800-acre site, over a 20-years into a mixed-use scheme which they claim will help to create more than 4,000 jobs.
Manston Airport Sold
Coff.
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Coff Thanks for posting. How sad, the end of another famous former RAF station. I remember it vaguely as only an occasional fleeting visitor and for the fact that I left my no. 2 SD hat in the OM gents' WC and for it never to be seen again!
Still my the time some toe-rag gave it a new home it was pretty well worn-out. Made by Messrs. Allkit I recall but replaced on promotion to Flt Lt by one from Messrs. Bates.
So no great loss in the overall scheme of things......
MB
Still my the time some toe-rag gave it a new home it was pretty well worn-out. Made by Messrs. Allkit I recall but replaced on promotion to Flt Lt by one from Messrs. Bates.
So no great loss in the overall scheme of things......MB
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Sad to see the runway may not see aircraft again.
Many happy memories of visiting such a historic airfield. Sitting on the grass besides the 1 AEF building on balmy summer days, waiting for my trip in what, if you squinted really hard, looked like a Spitfire.
I always loved it if an instructor asked "can you see the runway?" If you couldn't see that huge, fat ribbon of tarmac on a summer's day from just about anywhere you'd be flying you really should have brought your guide dog with you!
Many happy memories of visiting such a historic airfield. Sitting on the grass besides the 1 AEF building on balmy summer days, waiting for my trip in what, if you squinted really hard, looked like a Spitfire.
I always loved it if an instructor asked "can you see the runway?" If you couldn't see that huge, fat ribbon of tarmac on a summer's day from just about anywhere you'd be flying you really should have brought your guide dog with you!
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Coff,
For sure, commercially right now. But if the real estate is still there I was wondering if it was feasible (in terms of infrastructure, manning, service and support, ops management etc).. or is Northolt just as good.
For sure, commercially right now. But if the real estate is still there I was wondering if it was feasible (in terms of infrastructure, manning, service and support, ops management etc).. or is Northolt just as good.
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Al ...
Certainly it had/has a superior length of runway (+9k feet) to Northolt, but I suspect significant investment would be required to resurface and service/reinstall the RAG alone for FJ ops. I believe the Search Radar is an antiquity and the Bulk Fuel Tanks would probably require money spent on them. I'd love to see the old place back in mil hands ... but the chances of that happening are slim to nothing
Certainly it had/has a superior length of runway (+9k feet) to Northolt, but I suspect significant investment would be required to resurface and service/reinstall the RAG alone for FJ ops. I believe the Search Radar is an antiquity and the Bulk Fuel Tanks would probably require money spent on them. I'd love to see the old place back in mil hands ... but the chances of that happening are slim to nothing
Certainly F16s and RAF FJ operated out of there for airshows right up to closure. Freight and flight training aircraft up to 747 and A380 also used it.
It was to be the site of the new civil SAR base, but there has been no sign of
it and if the developers build 4000 houses on it I think they will need to look elsewhere....
mmitch.
It was to be the site of the new civil SAR base, but there has been no sign of
it and if the developers build 4000 houses on it I think they will need to look elsewhere....
mmitch.
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I thought the plan was for an Industrial Park, rather than housing. Maybe I'm wrong.
I still think the Local Council could have maintained it's status as a Heritage Airfield and not allowed a change of use. Which then may have made prospective owners look to maintain it's use for an aviation purpose.
Rather than making a quick buck for any old property development!
Perhaps in addition, NATO could have funded it's use as a FOB in the same way as Stornoway; for exercise and/or operational use if needed.
I still think the Local Council could have maintained it's status as a Heritage Airfield and not allowed a change of use. Which then may have made prospective owners look to maintain it's use for an aviation purpose.
Rather than making a quick buck for any old property development!
Perhaps in addition, NATO could have funded it's use as a FOB in the same way as Stornoway; for exercise and/or operational use if needed.
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Latest development ...
http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Bristow Helicopters SAR
Another nail in the coffin
BRISTOW Helicopters is reportedly speaking to officials at Lydd Airport about moving its search and rescue operation there following the closure of Manston airport.
Bristow were due to use Manston airport as a base for its south east search and rescue services, provided on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, from July 1 this year.
However, after the airport’s closure in May 2014, the firm has decided to consider alternative locations from which to operate.
Bristow were due to use Manston airport as a base for its south east search and rescue services, provided on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, from July 1 this year.
However, after the airport’s closure in May 2014, the firm has decided to consider alternative locations from which to operate.
Another nail in the coffin
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Would it be possible to have a link to the fact that Lydd will be used please?
All I can find in the BBC link is that the Leader of TDC understands that Lydd will be used and frankly, I'd like to see that in writing from Bristow rather than rely on her opinion.
I'm not saying that her opinion won't be proved correct, but on the Bristow SAR search I've done today, the name "Lydd" doesn't pull any information up.
All I can find in the BBC link is that the Leader of TDC understands that Lydd will be used and frankly, I'd like to see that in writing from Bristow rather than rely on her opinion.
I'm not saying that her opinion won't be proved correct, but on the Bristow SAR search I've done today, the name "Lydd" doesn't pull any information up.
Not sure why Lydd would be chosen as it's not that far from Lee-on-Solent. I would have thought the excellent facility at Wattisham would have been very attractive to Bristow?
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Manston
Ah RAF Manston c 1995 at the end of my 16 years, flying Chipmunks on the AEF with Pete Stonham and Ted Girdler, a couple of talented gents now sadly gone.
Memories aside, what would happen if Mr Putin bought the place for "cargo flights" and suddenly little green men started disembarking in the dead of night?
Memories aside, what would happen if Mr Putin bought the place for "cargo flights" and suddenly little green men started disembarking in the dead of night?
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Good morning BP
These threads might interest you ...
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...-1995-a-3.html
http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...chipmunks.html
In answer to your question ... The smell of 'cabbages' should be a sufficient deterrent
These threads might interest you ...
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...-1995-a-3.html
http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...chipmunks.html
In answer to your question ... The smell of 'cabbages' should be a sufficient deterrent
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 21st Feb 2015 at 08:53.