RAF Mildenhall Closure?

[RAFEngO74to09]

RAF Mildenhall closure delayed until at least 2027 while the USAF reviews its plans..

https://www.forces.net/news/raf-mild...til-least-2027

Knowing what I do about RAF Fairford - in particular the infrastructure put in specifically to make it the only European FOL for a significant number of heavy bombers in the early 2000s (all in the public domain now) - and the significant number of B-21 now likely to be ordered (compared to the B-2) and the further modernization of the B-52H - and the new weapons coming out for each - I would not be surprised to see the closure of RAF Mildenhall cancelled and RAF Fairford remaining the FOL for bombers and the U-2..

[Whenurhappy]

Originally Posted by Heathrow Harry

too true

what is worse is that the real bomb factory at Burghfield is also prety much on the approach. Aldermaston is the R&D facility... and bloody frightening it looks.....

not quite true...

[Magic90]

I’ll have ten bob on Marshall’s going to Mildenhall in ten years. Duxford doesn’t have infrastructure and the M11 could be an issue, Wyton’s not big enough and the RAF/Army are there long term, Cranfield too far, they are all miserable and runway is shorter. And more importantly Mildenhall is closest to me. Better still, Lakenheath and we owners can all have a HAS each.

[Asturias56]

Originally Posted by Whenurhappy

not quite true...

AWE Aldermaston is exactly 4 miles directly east of the old threshold at Greenham - Burghfield is 8 nm ENE ........ doesn't matter any way as it's the runway has all been ploughed up and the place converted to a nature reserve.

https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-rese...ookham-commons

they've kept the old Tower (now a museum) and the south side is a Business Park. The old cruise missile bunkers are still there and are used for storage (and for shooting Star Wars etc). The trust that owns most of it uses the commercial income for good causes

https://greenhamtrust.com/

Greenham Common - Homepage

[Dino Carrara]

Some more info on the aircraft at the Aviation News website www.aviation-news.co.uk

[dead_pan]

Originally Posted by RAFEngO74to09

RAF Mildenhall closure delayed until at least 2027 while the USAF reviews its plans..

https://www.forces.net/news/raf-mild...til-least-2027

Knowing what I do about RAF Fairford - in particular the infrastructure put in specifically to make it the only European FOL for a significant number of heavy bombers in the early 2000s (all in the public domain now) - and the significant number of B-21 now likely to be ordered (compared to the B-2) and the further modernization of the B-52H - and the new weapons coming out for each - I would not be surprised to see the closure of RAF Mildenhall cancelled and RAF Fairford remaining the FOL for bombers and the U-2..

There's not that much new infrastructure at Fairford TBH - a couple of hangars and that's about it. The yuge runway is the clincher.

It will be interesting to see what is planned to accommodate the RC135s or whatever is planned to move there in the next few years.

[Less Hair]

Planned move from Mildenhall units to Ramstein and Spangdahlem might be reevaluated as well.

[RAFEngO74to09]

Originally Posted by dead_pan

There's not that much new infrastructure at Fairford TBH

Incorrect - I guess you didn't read this !
"Knowing what I do about RAF Fairford - in particular the infrastructure put in specifically to make it the only European FOL for a significant number of heavy bombers in the early 2000s"

[ORAC]

Twitter

[air pig]

Given the President has announced the German drawdown and re-deployment of troops to Italy and the USA yesterday. I'm surprised some of the troops are not going to Poland.

[MFC_Fly]

RAF Mildenhall: Reprieve for US air base destined to close

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-53606937

[RAFEngO74to09]

Now confirmed that USAF RC-135 Rivet Joint Det will remain at RAF Mildenhall and not relocate to RAF Fairford.

(6) Home / Twitter

[bobward]

Maybe the RAF Rivet Joints will move to Mildenhall from Waddington. That would add a bit of room for the Red Arrows n'est pas?

[Boeing Jet]

Maybe that would be a good idea as the runway is longer!!

[Willard Whyte]

Originally Posted by bobward

Maybe the RAF Rivet Joints will move to Mildenhall from Waddington. That would add a bit of room for the Red Arrows n'est pas?

Problem is I think a significant number of aircrew on 51 wouldn't make the move.

[ExAscoteer2]

Originally Posted by Boeing Jet

Maybe that would be a good idea as the runway is longer!!

From the BINA:

Mildenhall RW 11/29 TORA/LDA 9240ft

Waddington R/W 02/20 TORA/LDA 9000ft

Not really a significant difference.

[chopper2004]

Originally Posted by bobward

Maybe the RAF Rivet Joints will move to Mildenhall from Waddington. That would add a bit of room for the Red Arrows n'est pas?

There was talk of that ....

cheers