Linton on Ouse : The end of an era
ShyTorque,
Fair enough!
Fair enough!
Avoid imitations
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We no longer need military power. If there’s any trouble with a potential invader we can get a lawyer such as Sir Keir Starmer to send them a snotty letter.
Seriously.
Gents (I assume) can you hear yourselves?!
Many of us loved Linton on Ouse but the defence budget will only stretch so far.
If you were CAS/CDS/1SL or even MOD and you were faced with the decision between keeping a base open for pure sentimentality or spending money on actual capability what the hell would you do? What the hell should you do?!
Of course it’s a shame that a base like LOO (insert the name of any other of your favourite stations here) has closed. But what option is there?
Many of our bases were compulsorily purchased or requisitioned during a time of war. How can we expect to justify keeping dozens of bases open just because someone once served there and really liked it?!
Please, wipe the tears away and just accept it. Either that or petition the government (and by definition the populace of the UK) for billions in extra money so we can hang onto things that we have no real reason for keeping.
Jeez.
BV
Many of us loved Linton on Ouse but the defence budget will only stretch so far.
If you were CAS/CDS/1SL or even MOD and you were faced with the decision between keeping a base open for pure sentimentality or spending money on actual capability what the hell would you do? What the hell should you do?!
Of course it’s a shame that a base like LOO (insert the name of any other of your favourite stations here) has closed. But what option is there?
Many of our bases were compulsorily purchased or requisitioned during a time of war. How can we expect to justify keeping dozens of bases open just because someone once served there and really liked it?!
Please, wipe the tears away and just accept it. Either that or petition the government (and by definition the populace of the UK) for billions in extra money so we can hang onto things that we have no real reason for keeping.
Jeez.
BV
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I have to agree with you Bob. It's sad, but earlier generations probably felt the same way about wartime bases. They just didn't have the talk facilities we have. It would, however, be nice to know that important relics are being preserved for posterity. Anyway, it wasn't a "proper" FTS. Says he, who trained at Syerston. 
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Maybe there’s scope for a few more military redundancies.
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I have to agree with you Bob. It's sad, but earlier generations probably felt the same way about wartime bases. They just didn't have the talk facilities we have. It would, however, be nice to know that important relics are being preserved for posterity. Anyway, it wasn't a "proper" FTS. Says he, who trained at Syerston.
The main driver in decisions concerning real estate is money. I know I wrote the the papers that informed those decisions nearly 30 years ago. The high-priced-help just want the savings and they want them made on their watch. The argument to close/ keep Leeming in the mid 90s was a close run thing, the savings were then £40m a year, the cost of a MOB in those days. The reason it survived was, that with all the other planned closures, Leeming was the only 7500 ft RW with a cable between Coningsby and Leuchars. No one else had thought of that and a few people were rather grateful in later years.
Perhaps it was because I needed it a few years before.
Leeming staying open was indeed a close call. I remember the papers and also recall pointing out to the VSO who would make the decision that the runway was one of the very few in the UK that pointed N-S and that its proximity to LFA 17 meant it had already saved many damaged or otherwise sick aircraft that would not have made it as far as another airfield.
Linton had a cable for a while (85 or 86, I think), while Leeming was being resurfaced for the F3. I ended up writing a decision-making flow chart to guide the duty staff through managing a cable engagement - the execs were all non-FJ and hadn't realised the runway would be unavailable (BLACK) for the period between rigging/supporting and clearing the aircraft from the cable, so possibly 15-30 mins, during which time they would have to deal with all the aircraft now running out of fuel, including solo students (divert or hold?). The JP wasn't cleared to trample cables at speed.
Linton had a cable for a while (85 or 86, I think), while Leeming was being resurfaced for the F3. I ended up writing a decision-making flow chart to guide the duty staff through managing a cable engagement - the execs were all non-FJ and hadn't realised the runway would be unavailable (BLACK) for the period between rigging/supporting and clearing the aircraft from the cable, so possibly 15-30 mins, during which time they would have to deal with all the aircraft now running out of fuel, including solo students (divert or hold?). The JP wasn't cleared to trample cables at speed.
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Linton had a cable for a while (85 or 86, I think), while Leeming was being resurfaced .....
Leeming staying open was indeed a close call. I remember the papers and also recall pointing out to the VSO who would make the decision that the runway was one of the very few in the UK that pointed N-S and that its proximity to LFA 17 meant it had already saved many damaged or otherwise sick aircraft that would not have made it as far as another airfield.
Linton had a cable for a while (85 or 86, I think), while Leeming was being resurfaced for the F3. I ended up writing a decision-making flow chart to guide the duty staff through managing a cable engagement - the execs were all non-FJ and hadn't realised the runway would be unavailable (BLACK) for the period between rigging/supporting and clearing the aircraft from the cable, so possibly 15-30 mins, during which time they would have to deal with all the aircraft now running out of fuel, including solo students (divert or hold?). The JP wasn't cleared to trample cables at speed.
Linton had a cable for a while (85 or 86, I think), while Leeming was being resurfaced for the F3. I ended up writing a decision-making flow chart to guide the duty staff through managing a cable engagement - the execs were all non-FJ and hadn't realised the runway would be unavailable (BLACK) for the period between rigging/supporting and clearing the aircraft from the cable, so possibly 15-30 mins, during which time they would have to deal with all the aircraft now running out of fuel, including solo students (divert or hold?). The JP wasn't cleared to trample cables at speed.
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Can't claim to have been at Linton, just had mates there, and I can't comment on the rights and wrongs of closing it. All I can say is I always felt very welcome when visiting, and Linton's somehow always been part of my life and always there; I feel quite sad (and very old) seeing it go.
Last edited by Addlepate; 3rd Jan 2021 at 08:12. Reason: More nostalgia
Aaah Linton. 1980. Anyone remember a certain course car nicknamed the ‘Deathmobile’? A lurid blue Ford Zephyr 6 decorated with Russian stars and ejection seat stickers. Most noticeable was its outrageous air horn so loud that Harry the Staish demanded the air horn motor be on his desk one morning before allowing the cars ‘owners’ to continue with their flying training. It was even banned from the station at one point until it appeared as a Gate guardian’ in the field next to the main gate, a field shared with the Staish’s daughters horse! Unfortunately the word was passed on to Valley and the car was banned before it even arrived on Anglesey. Now resides at the bottom of a cliff in the oggin somewhere north of Vally. Happy days!
Now resides at the bottom of a cliff in the oggin somewhere north of Vally. Happy days!
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Leeming staying open was indeed a close call. I remember the papers and also recall pointing out to the VSO who would make the decision that the runway was one of the very few in the UK that pointed N-S and that its proximity to LFA 17 meant it had already saved many damaged or otherwise sick aircraft that would not have made it as far as another airfield.
Linton had a cable for a while (85 or 86, I think), while Leeming was being resurfaced for the F3. I ended up writing a decision-making flow chart to guide the duty staff through managing a cable engagement - the execs were all non-FJ and hadn't realised the runway would be unavailable (BLACK) for the period between rigging/supporting and clearing the aircraft from the cable, so possibly 15-30 mins, during which time they would have to deal with all the aircraft now running out of fuel, including solo students (divert or hold?). The JP wasn't cleared to trample cables at speed.
Linton had a cable for a while (85 or 86, I think), while Leeming was being resurfaced for the F3. I ended up writing a decision-making flow chart to guide the duty staff through managing a cable engagement - the execs were all non-FJ and hadn't realised the runway would be unavailable (BLACK) for the period between rigging/supporting and clearing the aircraft from the cable, so possibly 15-30 mins, during which time they would have to deal with all the aircraft now running out of fuel, including solo students (divert or hold?). The JP wasn't cleared to trample cables at speed.
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I was born opposite Fulford barracks and spent my first 9 years at Strensall (no connection to the military at the time). I can see Fulford freeing up some prime real estate (£££'s). Presume they are keeping Strensall?
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Not unless you want a Concrete Submarine in the garden.
