400 Million quid for Lossie
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400 Million quid for Lossie
investment at Lossiemouth as one of the RAF’s three fast jet bases - upgrading its runways, taxiways and accommodation for the nine new Poseidon P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and an additional Typhoon squadron;
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/d...military-bases
FFS... it already exists at Kinloss. £400 million down the swanny IMHO
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/d...military-bases
FFS... it already exists at Kinloss. £400 million down the swanny IMHO
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Once again taxpayers including service personnel will watch the MOD mess it up while the contractors get rich.
Given the small number of movements per year at Lossie compared to a civil airfield why do the runways and taxiways need money spent on them? When were they last resurfaced?
Given the small number of movements per year at Lossie compared to a civil airfield why do the runways and taxiways need money spent on them? When were they last resurfaced?
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Bigpants, perhaps it's because the P8 is bigger than the current primary users (Typhoon) that the taxi ways, pans etc need expanding/upgrading??
Bannock, keeping and maintaining Two RAF bases separated by a dozen or so miles is far more expensive in the long run than keeping one and spending cash on an upgrade. Keeping two bases for the sake of 9 extra airframes is poor economics.
Bannock, keeping and maintaining Two RAF bases separated by a dozen or so miles is far more expensive in the long run than keeping one and spending cash on an upgrade. Keeping two bases for the sake of 9 extra airframes is poor economics.
cheers
Last edited by chopper2004; 25th Feb 2017 at 11:49.
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Maybe it's the load bearing capability of the taxiways rather than their dimensions.
Wiki has the MTOW of the Shack at 86000 lbs, the P-8 more than twice as much at 189000 lbs.
Or yet another iteration - perhaps its new taxiways to new parking for them.
It does seem a bit odd to invest 400 million in an MPA base when as you say there's the same thing up the road. What's more, the Royal Engineers are closing Rock Bks (i.e. Woodbridge) and it's an Engineer Regiment in Kinloss.
Maybe the 400m is outweighed by the "through-life costs" of having 3 sites instead of 2.
Wiki has the MTOW of the Shack at 86000 lbs, the P-8 more than twice as much at 189000 lbs.
Or yet another iteration - perhaps its new taxiways to new parking for them.
It does seem a bit odd to invest 400 million in an MPA base when as you say there's the same thing up the road. What's more, the Royal Engineers are closing Rock Bks (i.e. Woodbridge) and it's an Engineer Regiment in Kinloss.
Maybe the 400m is outweighed by the "through-life costs" of having 3 sites instead of 2.
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Wouldn't they have been better off to take a view between Kinloss and Lossimouth, closing one to flying (put the runways into the runway equivalent of wind and weather so you retain some future capability for when a Oscar pops up in Faslane to say hello and there's a sudden panic to get maritime up and running again). Mean time base a couple of army training regiments there (and the rocks....) to keep the place ticking over and a reason for existence.
At the same time retain RAF Leuchars as a fully funded and operational base. You could, at a pinch even open it up for weekend golfing flight operations.... (both civvie and .... )
Just a thought like.
At the same time retain RAF Leuchars as a fully funded and operational base. You could, at a pinch even open it up for weekend golfing flight operations.... (both civvie and .... )
Just a thought like.
From the linked article:
The P8s (and C40s) visiting Lossie have to backtrack down the main runway and also have to be pushed back on to their parking slots, so further spending on the airfield was always on the cards. Could be worse, the last Voyager had to shut down at the end of the runway and be towed all the way back to the pan for unloading.
Further, Leuchars Station will be expanded to become the main ‘hub’ for Army activity in Scotland.
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