Saxa is back
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Saxa is back
Now all the RAF needs is a fixed wing aircraft suitable for comms between the mainland and the nearest airport on Unst at Baltasound.
What's that? Oh the Army Air Corps has some.(Yes I know the RAF has some of those too but we're not supposed to mention them.)
Wonder what the USAF did with its C23As which were purchased to fly round the USAF bases in the UK.
What's that? Oh the Army Air Corps has some.(Yes I know the RAF has some of those too but we're not supposed to mention them.)
Wonder what the USAF did with its C23As which were purchased to fly round the USAF bases in the UK.
chevvron,
I think you'll find that those RAF aircraft that you are hinting at are no more, having been replaced at Northolt by civilian contracted Piper Navajo's.
And as Saxa Vord will be remotely operated with no based personnel, and according to the article, maintenance carried out by contractors, no need either?
I think you'll find that those RAF aircraft that you are hinting at are no more, having been replaced at Northolt by civilian contracted Piper Navajo's.
And as Saxa Vord will be remotely operated with no based personnel, and according to the article, maintenance carried out by contractors, no need either?
Probably not.
What next I wonder?
The (air defence) radar from Ash in Kent was piped into LATCC at West Drayton as it was excellently placed for civil traffic on what was airway Red 1 between Clacton and Brookmans Park and also for traffic on Blue 29 from Costa to Clacton. When I went to ATC camp at Manston in '86, there was an Air Defence guy in the mess who told me he was engaged in re-opening the ops room at Ash for operational use. Course a couple of years later the Cold War thawed so I dare say it was mothballed again. As far as I'm aware, Ash Radar is no longer used by NATS so I presume it may have been closed down completely, but could it be re-opened like Saxa Vord?
The (air defence) radar from Ash in Kent was piped into LATCC at West Drayton as it was excellently placed for civil traffic on what was airway Red 1 between Clacton and Brookmans Park and also for traffic on Blue 29 from Costa to Clacton. When I went to ATC camp at Manston in '86, there was an Air Defence guy in the mess who told me he was engaged in re-opening the ops room at Ash for operational use. Course a couple of years later the Cold War thawed so I dare say it was mothballed again. As far as I'm aware, Ash Radar is no longer used by NATS so I presume it may have been closed down completely, but could it be re-opened like Saxa Vord?
Chevvron,
Closed years ago and site sold off.
Closed years ago and site sold off.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
The bunker at Ash was refurbished during the 1980s as part of UKADGE. The idea was to have 4 bunkers with the two SOCs each having a standby, Buchan/Boulmer and Neatishead/Ash. As it was Ash was only ever used as the UKADGE OCU then shut again and finally sold off.
There was never an AD radar at Ash during my time in the RAF from 1974 to 1999. We did get radar from feeds from the MATO/NATS radars when UKADGE came in and we went digital, but most were SSR only. Than was also when we started shutting Saxa and the other outer sites.
It was when NATO found that out they started making us put primary radars back in the western/northern approaches again.....
There was never an AD radar at Ash during my time in the RAF from 1974 to 1999. We did get radar from feeds from the MATO/NATS radars when UKADGE came in and we went digital, but most were SSR only. Than was also when we started shutting Saxa and the other outer sites.
It was when NATO found that out they started making us put primary radars back in the western/northern approaches again.....
Ash in civvy hands
What next I wonder?
The (air defence) radar from Ash in Kent was piped into LATCC at West Drayton as it was excellently placed for civil traffic on what was airway Red 1 between Clacton and Brookmans Park and also for traffic on Blue 29 from Costa to Clacton. When I went to ATC camp at Manston in '86, there was an Air Defence guy in the mess who told me he was engaged in re-opening the ops room at Ash for operational use. Course a couple of years later the Cold War thawed so I dare say it was mothballed again. As far as I'm aware, Ash Radar is no longer used by NATS so I presume it may have been closed down completely, but could it be re-opened like Saxa Vord?
The (air defence) radar from Ash in Kent was piped into LATCC at West Drayton as it was excellently placed for civil traffic on what was airway Red 1 between Clacton and Brookmans Park and also for traffic on Blue 29 from Costa to Clacton. When I went to ATC camp at Manston in '86, there was an Air Defence guy in the mess who told me he was engaged in re-opening the ops room at Ash for operational use. Course a couple of years later the Cold War thawed so I dare say it was mothballed again. As far as I'm aware, Ash Radar is no longer used by NATS so I presume it may have been closed down completely, but could it be re-opened like Saxa Vord?
Here's a link to the full history of the site: RSG: Sites:RAF Sandwich
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chevvron,
I think you'll find that those RAF aircraft that you are hinting at are no more, having been replaced at Northolt by civilian contracted Piper Navajo's.
And as Saxa Vord will be remotely operated with no based personnel, and according to the article, maintenance carried out by contractors, no need either?
I think you'll find that those RAF aircraft that you are hinting at are no more, having been replaced at Northolt by civilian contracted Piper Navajo's.
And as Saxa Vord will be remotely operated with no based personnel, and according to the article, maintenance carried out by contractors, no need either?
Correct. Although they are Panthers not Navajo.
They certainly SOUND and look like Navajo's as they roam over North West London, is a Panther a souped up Navajo Chieftain?
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Navajo with winglets, presumably amongst other tweaks
https://www.jetphotos.com/aircraft/P...r%20Navajo%20C
https://www.jetphotos.com/aircraft/P...r%20Navajo%20C
Ah, I see, many thanks.
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The article referred to at the start of this thread showed pictures from CAS's visit, with the radome on the ground inside a 3-storey-high, temporary windbreak.
Later that afternoon, the radar was lifted into place atop a purpose-built tower, then later still, the 18m radome, weighing 10 tonnes, was lifted over the top of it before being lowered into place. The lift required a sustained wind speed of not more than 8.5mph.
The following evening, winds at the site were registered at 134mph; the dome (and sensor) are still there.
There has been a noticeable increase in trawlers around the local area, but then the weather has been quite challenging this week!
STH
Later that afternoon, the radar was lifted into place atop a purpose-built tower, then later still, the 18m radome, weighing 10 tonnes, was lifted over the top of it before being lowered into place. The lift required a sustained wind speed of not more than 8.5mph.
The following evening, winds at the site were registered at 134mph; the dome (and sensor) are still there.
There has been a noticeable increase in trawlers around the local area, but then the weather has been quite challenging this week!
STH
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Much better quality photos Here:
Crown Copyright, I am sure, but acknowledgement to Cpl Trish James of RAF Lossiemouth.
Crown Copyright, I am sure, but acknowledgement to Cpl Trish James of RAF Lossiemouth.
Last edited by SirToppamHat; 28th May 2018 at 13:40. Reason: Ack Photos
I am always amazed that people pay large sums to holiday on the Maldives. Anyone who endured a 12 month unaccompanied on Gan must be equally bemused. In the same way anyone who was exiled to Saxa Vord is probably not going to be considering this resort for their next holiday.
https://www.saxavord.com/
I used to like the story about the old leave application form on which you had to enter the name of the nearest railway station, back in the days when you got three rail warrants a year for leave travel.
If you were stationed at Saxa the nearest station was Stavanger!
https://www.saxavord.com/
I used to like the story about the old leave application form on which you had to enter the name of the nearest railway station, back in the days when you got three rail warrants a year for leave travel.
If you were stationed at Saxa the nearest station was Stavanger!