Scampton And Linton-on-Ouse Closure
Valley frontline?
Never
Never
Nutloose,
If you were to try and rebuild/re-create the RAF Museum at Scampton I think you would very rapidly run out of money from the receipts from disposing of Hendon. You would have to start from scratch at Scampton as those 4 C Type hangars are 83 years old and would themselves only hold a tiny fraction of what is at Hendon.
AND, it would be in Lincolnshire...
If you were to try and rebuild/re-create the RAF Museum at Scampton I think you would very rapidly run out of money from the receipts from disposing of Hendon. You would have to start from scratch at Scampton as those 4 C Type hangars are 83 years old and would themselves only hold a tiny fraction of what is at Hendon.
AND, it would be in Lincolnshire...
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Nutloose,
If you were to try and rebuild/re-create the RAF Museum at Scampton I think you would very rapidly run out of money from the receipts from disposing of Hendon. You would have to start from scratch at Scampton as those 4 C Type hangars are 83 years old and would themselves only hold a tiny fraction of what is at Hendon.
AND, it would be in Lincolnshire...
If you were to try and rebuild/re-create the RAF Museum at Scampton I think you would very rapidly run out of money from the receipts from disposing of Hendon. You would have to start from scratch at Scampton as those 4 C Type hangars are 83 years old and would themselves only hold a tiny fraction of what is at Hendon.
AND, it would be in Lincolnshire...
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BV, sadly most truckies were unwilling to make waves and suggest alternatives... Those of us who'd been buggered about in previous existences were more likely to try.
I've flown trooping flights to/from Lossiemouth, Kinloss, Turnhouse, Manchester in shiny VC10s and to Marham, Wittering, East Midlands, Leuchars in the VC10K.
Can do - if allowed!
Some pax are never satisfied though - we once gave to some pompous pongo officer a lift to Germany. It was a double IRT sortie, so Brize to the Clutch took a couple of hours and 3 approaches, taking-off at 10:00 local. Rather than thanking anyone, said pongo huffed and puffed about the time it was taking....
Just for once could a thread about Scampton NOT become a conversation about that sodding dog...PLEASE!
I've flown trooping flights to/from Lossiemouth, Kinloss, Turnhouse, Manchester in shiny VC10s and to Marham, Wittering, East Midlands, Leuchars in the VC10K.
Can do - if allowed!
Some pax are never satisfied though - we once gave to some pompous pongo officer a lift to Germany. It was a double IRT sortie, so Brize to the Clutch took a couple of hours and 3 approaches, taking-off at 10:00 local. Rather than thanking anyone, said pongo huffed and puffed about the time it was taking....
Just for once could a thread about Scampton NOT become a conversation about that sodding dog...PLEASE!
Always very appreciative of the crews though, especially when a Tristar captain dropped us all off at Lossie and announced on landing that anyone that wanted onward transport to Brize should make themselves known and would be accommodated. After a long time away from home the effort to get people back quickly was, I think, appreciated by everyone.
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Thankfully this post is anonymous (ish) and I cannot be identified as I would deny I said this to any RAF Regt types 
The RAFR may seem like a waste of time, money & resources, however they do provide 3 niche capabilities that the Army are just not in the same league.
JTACs - having worked with literally hundreds over the last 15 yrs or so from various nations and cap badges, nobody is as professional or competent as the RAFR. This includes SF JTACs and USAF TACPs. Nobody comes close!
CBRN - As with JTACs the world leaders in CBRN are the boys from Honington. The Army just dont get it and I believe dont even train their personnel outside of Phase 1 training with any regularity.
Air aware - The Army do not understand Air or aviation in any meaningful capacity or even how important it is to Land. A case in point. Whilst in Kenya on exercise we ended up very narrowly missing a DH3 UAV as the artillery ‘experts’ decided that as they had gun lines (inactive for a week) and they operated them that they owned the airspace over the entire area.
This was despite us flying down the air corridor separating 2 ranges. The exact reply from the battery commander “we own the air, you arent allowed in to the range when guns are present”. When asked where in the range documents this was written down, he asked what range documents?
The Army have absolutely no concept of aviation or why it matters to them on the ground.... This attitude has stood true in my entire military career.
The RAFR are (and I hate to admit this) an essential capability for Air as they just ‘get it’ when it comes to aviation.
The RAFR may seem like a waste of time, money & resources, however they do provide 3 niche capabilities that the Army are just not in the same league.
JTACs - having worked with literally hundreds over the last 15 yrs or so from various nations and cap badges, nobody is as professional or competent as the RAFR. This includes SF JTACs and USAF TACPs. Nobody comes close!
CBRN - As with JTACs the world leaders in CBRN are the boys from Honington. The Army just dont get it and I believe dont even train their personnel outside of Phase 1 training with any regularity.
Air aware - The Army do not understand Air or aviation in any meaningful capacity or even how important it is to Land. A case in point. Whilst in Kenya on exercise we ended up very narrowly missing a DH3 UAV as the artillery ‘experts’ decided that as they had gun lines (inactive for a week) and they operated them that they owned the airspace over the entire area.
This was despite us flying down the air corridor separating 2 ranges. The exact reply from the battery commander “we own the air, you arent allowed in to the range when guns are present”. When asked where in the range documents this was written down, he asked what range documents?
The Army have absolutely no concept of aviation or why it matters to them on the ground.... This attitude has stood true in my entire military career.
The RAFR are (and I hate to admit this) an essential capability for Air as they just ‘get it’ when it comes to aviation.
Last edited by heights good; 24th Jul 2018 at 18:26.
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Given that the majority of The Red Arrows' displays seem to be doon sooth perhaps a similarly located runway would be an idea. Although I admit enough suitable airspace for practice might be hard to come by.
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The last time Scampton was earmaked for closure the Red Arrows decamped for Cranwell (soon to be the RAF's only base) where their need for airspace saw them return to Scampton. I suppose that has been forgotten?
Rather than close Scampton, why not Syerston, after all the Air Cadets no longer glide!
Rather than close Scampton, why not Syerston, after all the Air Cadets no longer glide!
Hey, never mind the Reds moving (perhaps getting rid of them is the only way to get Lingy back to a proper job) but Scampton is a rather popular and soon to become busy RLG; where is all that circuit work going to be done? If you ask Coningsby or Waddo for a PD you get a straight 'No'. How incredibly short sighted!!
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I understand the reasons you say and I guess it might not work everywhere. But take Kinloss as an example. Once upon a time it could handle heavy aircraft. Why would that suddenly stop?
It’s easy to find reasons why not but I bet an Army Garrison CO could have found ways to borrow steps and fire engines if it meant helping his Soldiers out.
I know it’s a simplistic view but the military is meant to be a ‘can do’ organisation, not a ‘can’t do’ organisation.
As an example. A 54 Sqn detachment to Turkey in 2004/5 ended up with many personnel being flown directly into Coltishall in a VC10 with dysentery.
If it could be done then, why couldn’t it be done more often?
BV
It’s easy to find reasons why not but I bet an Army Garrison CO could have found ways to borrow steps and fire engines if it meant helping his Soldiers out.
I know it’s a simplistic view but the military is meant to be a ‘can do’ organisation, not a ‘can’t do’ organisation.
As an example. A 54 Sqn detachment to Turkey in 2004/5 ended up with many personnel being flown directly into Coltishall in a VC10 with dysentery.
If it could be done then, why couldn’t it be done more often?
BV
Last edited by heights good; 24th Jul 2018 at 18:35.
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At Waddington we had an ex-ASI VC10 deliver the guys behind the Tower for hugs and kisses. Ex CORPORATE, of course, when it was the flavour of the month.
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Yeah ... Right
"They think " ... obviously coming from a ex rock ape with delusions .... get a life ...if you were that good why were you not protecting the many LZ'S in NI ?, i Can't remember any RAF REG protecting their helicopters in the various SF bases around the province when i was there, XMG springs to mind, that's because you were to busy thinking it was a little bit dodgy down that way.
Sitting on your **** at Aldergrove ( i didn't see you at BBK either ) thinking you were a cut above didn't get the job done.
As for RAF.
Weather Bad .... were not coming .... AAC... we'll get you.
Heavy weapons shoot on a Wessex ( No CAS, a couple of bullet holes) coming into XMG .... we didn't see the RAF for a week .
AAC, PAX pick up the next day ... no problems.
RAF thinking to much ...Army get the job done.
Sitting on your **** at Aldergrove ( i didn't see you at BBK either ) thinking you were a cut above didn't get the job done.
As for RAF.
Weather Bad .... were not coming .... AAC... we'll get you.
Heavy weapons shoot on a Wessex ( No CAS, a couple of bullet holes) coming into XMG .... we didn't see the RAF for a week .
AAC, PAX pick up the next day ... no problems.
RAF thinking to much ...Army get the job done.
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This might ruffle a few feathers but there's a large base in west Wales the Army currently use, well away from congested airspace, close by beaches etc, and was once home to TWU. .. .
Ttfn
Ttfn
Does it bother anyone that The Times article https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...uvre-rpcmlxzdq
and indeed all the BBC reporting, refer only to 'bases' or 'airbases' without ever mentioning the word 'station'. i have had a go at the BBC Defence Correspondent today, reminding him that the RAF in the UK lives on 'stations', not on bases. I also mentioned 'station commander' and people, aircraft and squadrons being 'stationed' wherever.
His replies have been deeply condescending - and eventually he said "To most Station is where you catch a train"
Does anybody else care?
airsound
and indeed all the BBC reporting, refer only to 'bases' or 'airbases' without ever mentioning the word 'station'. i have had a go at the BBC Defence Correspondent today, reminding him that the RAF in the UK lives on 'stations', not on bases. I also mentioned 'station commander' and people, aircraft and squadrons being 'stationed' wherever.
His replies have been deeply condescending - and eventually he said "To most Station is where you catch a train"
Does anybody else care?
airsound
Last edited by airsound; 24th Jul 2018 at 20:03. Reason: punctuation
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Agreed, airsound ... why a decent Newspaper can't even get the terminology right is extremely annoying,
"Marham Barracks"?
"Marham Barracks"?