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Red Arrows to move from RAF Scampton to one of three sites

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Red Arrows to move from RAF Scampton to one of three sites

Old 24th Mar 2019, 20:33
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Is the presence of the A1 so close to Leeming really such an issue.
Many roads with many distractions all over the UK.
Would the MOD pay for some roadside conifers to prevent gawking?
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Old 24th Mar 2019, 22:04
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Originally Posted by BEagle
Leeming - a little further north than ideal, given that most displays are in the south of the UK. But a good long runway and plenty of available space, with only Tatty Ton and the nascent T1 AFS being in residence. Of the 3, the only one which doesn't require departures and arrivals over a major road. Teesside/Durham or whatever it calls itself these days isn't really that close to be a factor, but would be a convenient diversion.

Waddington - rather busy with resident aircraft and visitors, no spare hangarage. The proximity of the A15 and the road traffic issue which that would cause whenever the Team was departing or landing would be rather significant.

Wittering - full of plastic pigs flying UAS and AEF most of the time and much closer to the A1 than Leeming is to the A1M.

Of the 3, Leeming seems the obvious choice. Which no doubt means that Swanton Morley will actually be chosen!
Ref. Waddington...the A15 will be diverted shortly (year or so) and will no longer run at the end of the runway...just a thought!
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Old 24th Mar 2019, 22:58
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Originally Posted by Harley Quinn
Does Cottesmore or Wiittering have the necessary support services now? ATC, Fire & Rescue, Fuel storage, hangars suitable to house and maintain aircraft, are the operating surfaces up to snuff? Have any new housing estates been built since flying ceased, will it be affected by constant practice sorties. If the answer is we're not sure, then everyone on RAFAT should start practicing understanding that strange Yorkshire accent, because Leeming probably has all that good, practical, expensive stuff already.
Cottesmore does not as it’s been near a decade since end of Harrier ops, handed over to the army. Not even sure if the runway is in good shape. Wittering has the necessary infrastructure ATC, Fire, etc as it does operate 16 and 6 Sqn plus Cambridge and London UAS

https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisat...raf-wittering/

On a numerous note, why not start up flight ops lol at Wyton 🎃🤖 ....sure the only thing flying is the MAGPAS MD902 but they’re moving to Alconbury come next year. And hey it was only quarter of a century ago, that 100 Sqn was based there with their Hawk T1s... lol

Cheers
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Old 25th Mar 2019, 07:37
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Originally Posted by chopper2004


Cottesmore does not as it’s been near a decade since end of Harrier ops, handed over to the army. Not even sure if the runway is in good shape. Wittering has the necessary infrastructure ATC, Fire, etc as it does operate 16 and 6 Sqn plus Cambridge and London UAS

https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisat...raf-wittering/

On a numerous note, why not start up flight ops lol at Wyton 🎃🤖 ....sure the only thing flying is the MAGPAS MD902 but they’re moving to Alconbury come next year. And hey it was only quarter of a century ago, that 100 Sqn was based there with their Hawk T1s... lol

Cheers
I assume the thinking re COT is the runway is still in good (enough) order and that a ATC caravan and fire cover would be provided by WIT. I didn't see Wyton on the shortlist myself, probably because its earmarked to be covered in thousands of houses in the near future. Nice idea though!
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Old 25th Mar 2019, 09:31
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With ATC Gliding going the way it is going......Syerston, and it has a nice new hangar
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Old 1st Apr 2019, 15:32
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Wittering are holding a public consultation about the move. Are Waddo and Leeming doing the same?

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Old 1st Apr 2019, 16:36
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Originally Posted by 622
With ATC Gliding going the way it is going......Syerston, and it has a nice new hangar
And, they've moved the main road back a quarter of a mile...
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Old 1st Apr 2019, 18:58
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Should Wittering be chosen what would the likely impact on local private airfields be?There is Spanhoe lying under the Western stub and Shacklewell to the North within the Matz.
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 01:21
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Originally Posted by Echo Romeo
Should Wittering be chosen what would the likely impact on local private airfields be?There is Spanhoe lying under the Western stub and Shacklewell to the North within the Matz.
Parachuting to the south from Sibson too with an advisory 'avoid' area.
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 04:01
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Echo Romeo and chevvron,

Apart from the fact that Wittering is currently a busy flying training station, so Spanhoe, Shacklewell and Sibson are already being coped with, it used to be even busier with a large Harrier OCU, an operational Harrier squadron and two operational Hunter squadrons, so if it was OK then I guess the addition of an aerobatic team with Cottesmore as their RLG/display overhead should still be OK?

I wonder how they managed when Wittering, Cottesmore and North Luffenham were all operational?
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 04:56
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Originally Posted by pr00ne
Echo Romeo and chevvron,

Apart from the fact that Wittering is currently a busy flying training station, so Spanhoe, Shacklewell and Sibson are already being coped with, it used to be even busier with a large Harrier OCU, an operational Harrier squadron and two operational Hunter squadrons.....
Used to be busier? Nope. Nosier perhaps, but not busier.



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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 05:29
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Originally Posted by superplum
Mildenhall will be coming available with lots of space for all and sundry (and luxurious support facilities at no extra cost).

I guess that's will be a No then!
The closure of Mildenhall is delayed TFN as there is no pan space for the AAR Wing at any other European USAF base.
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 07:33
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There is a very easy way to solve this - bin them.

There are far more important things - pretty basic things - within the Defence realm that the resources could be allocated to. Remove the tree from the top of the AWS, heating properly working in accommo blocks etc.

Gimping around the world pretending you are promoting British defence sales and industry is laughable.
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 13:51
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Hawks return to Wyton? :D

Another suggestion lol a return to the days of 100 Sqn including their Flt Lt famous international Rugby player Take back the runway at Wyton, put back ATC, fire section ect ect. One still see the mount for the PAR near the MAGPAS facility. The MAGPAS facility (Specialist Aviation Services provide MD902) will be moving to former RAF Alconbury airfield side now known as Alconbury Weald come 2020 with their (SAS provided) AW169.

Few months AAC Wildcats used the runway for an exercise ...

Ah just realised....tis busy up there...what with being on approach and T/o from the EGUN....plus commercial air traffic ..

Cheers
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 14:41
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Originally Posted by Pure Pursuit


The closure of Mildenhall is delayed TFN as there is no pan space for the AAR Wing at any other European USAF base.
Re-open Sculthorpe or Alconbury? Heyford is too far gone.
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 14:55
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Originally Posted by Pure Pursuit
The closure of Mildenhall is delayed TFN as there is no pan space for the AAR Wing at any other European USAF base.
You mean someone didn't actually bother to check before taking the decision to announce the closure........ surely not
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 15:29
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In response to Sky Sports question yesterday, public consultation meetings are indeed planned for the other 2 sites, on the 9th for Leeming and the 10th for Waddington.
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 17:57
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Originally Posted by gijoe
There is a very easy way to solve this - bin them.

There are far more important things - pretty basic things - within the Defence realm that the resources could be allocated to. Remove the tree from the top of the AWS, heating properly working in accommo blocks etc.

Gimping around the world pretending you are promoting British defence sales and industry is laughable.
I don’t think that’s what the MOD study into the matter concluded. The Eastern Hawk endeavour in particular had a significant financial value attributed to it.
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Old 2nd Apr 2019, 23:46
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Originally Posted by chevvron
Re-open Sculthorpe or Alconbury? Heyford is too far gone.
I would love if the MoD took Alconbury Weald and hand it back to the 501st next door......still there is half a runway left , two hangars by it. Beyond that it’s a small village and industrial estate on side with 4/5 large buildings built on the northern side plus all sorts of crap dotted around. How do I know this ? I pop in every so often as one of my clients is on site.

Then again going into the realms of fantasy, what with small village there...can be used as base housing lol.

Scunthorpe is used mainly by the 352nd with their Cv-22B and MC-130J for exercises and stuff , dropping PJs and STS quite regularly with Civil Engineering Squadrons from either the Hall or Heath sends an Oshkosh By Gosh fire truck in support of impending manuevers. Behind that it’s private property , some industrial estate one side. Barracks are run down, dilapidated suppose nothing short of lick of paint, a good interior designer , window cleaner and so forth and so forth to make it habitable again.

Cheers
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Old 3rd Apr 2019, 06:42
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Originally Posted by chevvron
Re-open Sculthorpe or Alconbury? Heyford is too far gone.
I wondered if Sculthorpe was still active?
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