Manston Airport : Possible Closure
Problem with Manston as the extra London airfield is that you will be able to fly from Inverness to London (Manston) for 39p on EasyJet and then will have to fork out £75 for the single rail ticket to St Pancras!
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Classic thread hijack at work here (Manston to Cape Canaveral in less than one page!).
Back on track to update a couple of posts;
LANDROGER - Manston may have had the longest hard runway in the country when it was constructed in 1944 but it has been overtaken a few times now. It had certainly the widest runway at 750 feet, designed to accept three returning and damaged bombers side by side towards the far end and then stack them up. In late 1944, 744 aircraft made emergency landings at RAF Manston - in one month.
There are at least ten UK runways in active use longer than the current 9016ft/2748m of Manston - Heathrow, Gatwick, RAF Brize Norton, Boscombe Down, RAF Fairford, RAF Marham, Stansted, East Midlands, Manchester to name a few.
AIRPIG - You should fly in when it's dry, calm and in daylight! I can't figure out what your point was - surely many airfields could be like that, not just Manston!
Fox3WheresMyBanana - We used to find when we military controllers had charge of the airfield that some civilian pilots didn't understand what we meant by our terminology - it wouldn't surprise me that they might misunderstand "Initials", or be taken by surprise with a little speed!
Anyway, it's good to see that the subject has stirred some memories. Now, if you feel that Manston should have a future, there's an on-line petition you could add to in order to show support if you wish;
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petition...anston-airport
I have very fond memories of Manston in its later RAF days that could give current military conrtrollers a few headaches, such as operating three simultaneous visual circuits (Rwy 28/10 - 1500ft jets - 1000ft light a/c, Rwy 06/24 - 800ft light a/c and a gliding circuit to the North side). If 202 Sqn were training with their Sea Kings, it was possible to have four visual circuits on the go! Good times.
Back on track to update a couple of posts;
LANDROGER - Manston may have had the longest hard runway in the country when it was constructed in 1944 but it has been overtaken a few times now. It had certainly the widest runway at 750 feet, designed to accept three returning and damaged bombers side by side towards the far end and then stack them up. In late 1944, 744 aircraft made emergency landings at RAF Manston - in one month.
There are at least ten UK runways in active use longer than the current 9016ft/2748m of Manston - Heathrow, Gatwick, RAF Brize Norton, Boscombe Down, RAF Fairford, RAF Marham, Stansted, East Midlands, Manchester to name a few.
AIRPIG - You should fly in when it's dry, calm and in daylight! I can't figure out what your point was - surely many airfields could be like that, not just Manston!
Fox3WheresMyBanana - We used to find when we military controllers had charge of the airfield that some civilian pilots didn't understand what we meant by our terminology - it wouldn't surprise me that they might misunderstand "Initials", or be taken by surprise with a little speed!
Anyway, it's good to see that the subject has stirred some memories. Now, if you feel that Manston should have a future, there's an on-line petition you could add to in order to show support if you wish;
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petition...anston-airport
I have very fond memories of Manston in its later RAF days that could give current military conrtrollers a few headaches, such as operating three simultaneous visual circuits (Rwy 28/10 - 1500ft jets - 1000ft light a/c, Rwy 06/24 - 800ft light a/c and a gliding circuit to the North side). If 202 Sqn were training with their Sea Kings, it was possible to have four visual circuits on the go! Good times.
Used Manston a few times when transiting to/from BFG. Handy for getting out of a rubber suit, and the nice gentlemen of the Customs were always friendly enough. With the withdrawal from BFG I guess there's not so much trade.
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Just a bit more colour to add to what P6 has posted above ... for those interested 
There was a rumour circulating at the time that the Manston runway was listed, although never used, by NASA as an emergency diversionary landing strip for the Space Shuttle programme along with RAF Fairford. Mind you, if true, It would have been interesting to have seen a Space Shuttle do an approach off the North Foreland NDB
Manston was never/still isn't blessed with viable communication routes (Road and Rail) off the Isle of Thanet and this has always been IMHO the handicap in terms of promoting it as a credible London satellite airport. The only operation that seemed to eke out a living was Hugh Kennard's Invicta Airways during the 60/70's ... on the back of the RAF maintaining the airfield/runway.
Along with RAF Leeming, RAF Manston was a MDA (Master Diversion Aerodrome) with Foam Carpet laying capability ... a now somewhat outdated mode of emergency recovery.
If Manston is to go ... then what will happen to the Ministry of Defence Fire Services Central Training Establishment (MOD FSCTE) currently based there. Additionally LFA18 will loose a good diversion runway ... certainly the OC of II(AC) Squadron was glad of the Thanet tarmac when suffering a Bird Strike in January this year
And here's a pic from happier times in the late 60's during the filming of a certain film
Best ...
Coff.
There was a rumour circulating at the time that the Manston runway was listed, although never used, by NASA as an emergency diversionary landing strip for the Space Shuttle programme along with RAF Fairford. Mind you, if true, It would have been interesting to have seen a Space Shuttle do an approach off the North Foreland NDB
Manston was never/still isn't blessed with viable communication routes (Road and Rail) off the Isle of Thanet and this has always been IMHO the handicap in terms of promoting it as a credible London satellite airport. The only operation that seemed to eke out a living was Hugh Kennard's Invicta Airways during the 60/70's ... on the back of the RAF maintaining the airfield/runway.
Along with RAF Leeming, RAF Manston was a MDA (Master Diversion Aerodrome) with Foam Carpet laying capability ... a now somewhat outdated mode of emergency recovery.
If Manston is to go ... then what will happen to the Ministry of Defence Fire Services Central Training Establishment (MOD FSCTE) currently based there. Additionally LFA18 will loose a good diversion runway ... certainly the OC of II(AC) Squadron was glad of the Thanet tarmac when suffering a Bird Strike in January this year
And here's a pic from happier times in the late 60's during the filming of a certain film
Best ...
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 20th Mar 2014 at 21:34.
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As sad as it is to see former RAF stations go, one does have to be pragmatic. Its location served the purpose in the war years, and did so admirably even into the 90s.
As a commercial airport location, it's just not in the right location. The local catchment area is too underpopulated. Bringing folk in from elsewhere needs to be quick and convenient if it is to succeed. Ramsgate is not the center of that particular universe. The investment required to make it more attractive to a wider catchment area is better invested elsewhere.
If it didn't have a future with the RAF, and can't stand on its own in the commercial world, the future is inevitable.
Sad to see the history go, but everything has its price.
As a commercial airport location, it's just not in the right location. The local catchment area is too underpopulated. Bringing folk in from elsewhere needs to be quick and convenient if it is to succeed. Ramsgate is not the center of that particular universe. The investment required to make it more attractive to a wider catchment area is better invested elsewhere.
If it didn't have a future with the RAF, and can't stand on its own in the commercial world, the future is inevitable.
Sad to see the history go, but everything has its price.
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ZA398 still resides at Manston following the birdstrike in January.
The same airframe was also diverted into Manston in late 2013, again with a birdstrike. It has been reported that it won't fly again due to high hours and the cost of repair. The tail might be transferred to another jet apparently.
I personally have always seen the commercial future of Manston as a cargo airport rather than passengers, but it does appear that it's time has come.
The airport released a statement today saying that flight operations are not viable after 9th April - well within the 45 day "consultation" period. Staff cannot be made redundant until the end of the 45 day period though according to the local TV news tonight.
The BBC have tried to book a KLM scheduled flight in April and say that it's not possible to buy a ticket for anything after 8th April.
The same airframe was also diverted into Manston in late 2013, again with a birdstrike. It has been reported that it won't fly again due to high hours and the cost of repair. The tail might be transferred to another jet apparently.
I personally have always seen the commercial future of Manston as a cargo airport rather than passengers, but it does appear that it's time has come.
The airport released a statement today saying that flight operations are not viable after 9th April - well within the 45 day "consultation" period. Staff cannot be made redundant until the end of the 45 day period though according to the local TV news tonight.
The BBC have tried to book a KLM scheduled flight in April and say that it's not possible to buy a ticket for anything after 8th April.
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With regard to the MOD FSCTE (Fire Training) at Manston, the closure of the airfield should have no impact on them (now re-named as the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre) as the RAF camp is separated from the airfield by a public road and was retained by the MOD when the RAF airfield was sold.
The only thing they wouldn't be able to do is fly any airframe in to Manston for transfer to the RAF side (such as the Nimrod). Tornado ZA398 has been moved closer to the B2050 pubic road and I would hazard a guess that it will be taken over to the RAF camp very soon, off the airfield.
Of concern must be the fate of the two aviation museums on the airfield land. The RAF Manston History Museum has many large exhibits such as complete Jaguar, T-33, Wessex, Whirlwind, Chipmunk and Iskra, as well as cockpits of Tornado, Victor, S360 and Buccaneer. The nearby located Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial houses one of each of those types.
The only thing they wouldn't be able to do is fly any airframe in to Manston for transfer to the RAF side (such as the Nimrod). Tornado ZA398 has been moved closer to the B2050 pubic road and I would hazard a guess that it will be taken over to the RAF camp very soon, off the airfield.
Of concern must be the fate of the two aviation museums on the airfield land. The RAF Manston History Museum has many large exhibits such as complete Jaguar, T-33, Wessex, Whirlwind, Chipmunk and Iskra, as well as cockpits of Tornado, Victor, S360 and Buccaneer. The nearby located Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial houses one of each of those types.
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By way of an update on events today for those interested ...
More here ...
Kent On-Line : Manston
Not looking good
The consortium that had been interested in taking over Manston Airport has withdrawn its offer and pulled the plug on the deal.
Staff at the airport were told at a meeting this morning about the development, which represents a significant blow to those hoping the airport could be kept open.
Staff at the airport were told at a meeting this morning about the development, which represents a significant blow to those hoping the airport could be kept open.
Kent On-Line : Manston
Not looking good
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And it is, of course, the last place that a MR2 landed:
http://timstubbingsphotography.com/w...2_a20_pTR).jpg
Duncs
http://timstubbingsphotography.com/w...2_a20_pTR).jpg
Duncs
Last edited by Duncan D'Sorderlee; 2nd Apr 2014 at 22:36. Reason: complete failure to post a picture!
and a bull as well...
This probably belongs in "Freight Dogs" but early in 1974 I had a cattle charter from Manston using, I think, an Invicta Britannia. It was a night load and as the truck backed up we pushed the wooden barriers up to the loading ramp. One particularly big bull wanted nothing to do with this and charged our barrier and romped off away into the night.... and as it happened there was a loaded Vulcan parked nearby with an RAFP guard complete with alsation. The poor dog took one look at the charging bull and legged it and we all spent the rest of the night trying to find the damn bull- which ended up in a garden nearby.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
p.s. I recall the -71 story was FL600, as IIRC FL660+ is uncontrolled airspace - one knows these things
I am reminded of the time I handed over a Lightning to Midland for recovery shortly before they left service.
The handover call was along the lines of, "Ltg, cs XX, VFR, fuel precautionary recovery, 040, 30nm." The response was on the line of, "OK, stud 5".
The response on the phone wasn't silence when he checked in and the controller found out he was VFR above and descending into the MRSA.....
Little things make some of the best memories.........
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Sitigeltfel, nope they did not have cl44s as far as I know- but they were certainly manston-centric and mostly used Vanguards. You might have been thinking of tradewinds or ias or even tmac. or Young cargo from belgium (aka the flight number hijackers)
I dug out my logbooks and found on 9dec 78 (not 74 as I thought) we had a cattle charter manston - Casablanca using Britannia G-AOVF with the above mentioned bull mayhem.
We returned via almeria and thereby hangs a tale. We loaded 18 tonnes of cucumber but on taxi there was a"thud" and we lost all hydraulics. Back on the ramp the FE got out 10 cans of coke and said "drink this I need the cans" whereupon he brazed a pipe from aforesaid cans to make an emergency repair to get us back to Manston. We were tempted to ask for the arrestor barrier on arrival but the captain stalled the Britannia onto the numbers and we rollout without touching the brakes- a superb performance.
And 18 tons of cucumber has a most intense smell
I dug out my logbooks and found on 9dec 78 (not 74 as I thought) we had a cattle charter manston - Casablanca using Britannia G-AOVF with the above mentioned bull mayhem.
We returned via almeria and thereby hangs a tale. We loaded 18 tonnes of cucumber but on taxi there was a"thud" and we lost all hydraulics. Back on the ramp the FE got out 10 cans of coke and said "drink this I need the cans" whereupon he brazed a pipe from aforesaid cans to make an emergency repair to get us back to Manston. We were tempted to ask for the arrestor barrier on arrival but the captain stalled the Britannia onto the numbers and we rollout without touching the brakes- a superb performance.
And 18 tons of cucumber has a most intense smell
I used to live in Herne Bay and worked at Gatwick. Simply put Manston is in the wrong place No one from London is going drive past Gatwick and spend an extra couple of hours travelling to the arse end of Kent. EU Jet were the last to try and maybe a poor choice of aircraft, odd route choices and a less than stella advertising campaign didnt help but they discovered bottom line , the catchment area is simply not big enough.
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I remember G-AOVF ...
As she was ...
Image Credit : Airlines-Airliners
And now ...
G-AOVF Britannia 312F RAF Museum Cosford, UK Painted in false RAF markings as XM497
Image Credit : Wikipedia
As she was ...
Image Credit : Airlines-Airliners
And now ...
G-AOVF Britannia 312F RAF Museum Cosford, UK Painted in false RAF markings as XM497
Image Credit : Wikipedia
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Manston runway width
I landed a Seaking across the runway once doing a running landing (because we could!) With the late LCDR Colin Douglas RN during a visit to his home town from Culdrose.
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Fake Sealion ...
You should've gone to Pegwell Bay and met the Hoverlloyd Hostesses ...
Come to think of it ... I believe Hoverlloyd stopped in 1977 ... making your trip two years too late
But it didn't take the ULAS Instructors long, during the 1974 Summer Camp, to reconnoitre
You should've gone to Pegwell Bay and met the Hoverlloyd Hostesses ...
Come to think of it ... I believe Hoverlloyd stopped in 1977 ... making your trip two years too late
But it didn't take the ULAS Instructors long, during the 1974 Summer Camp, to reconnoitre
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 3rd Apr 2014 at 12:35.