Rumor of USAFE former installations being reactivated
Although I agree with dead_pan that it is probably just clickbait, I did a bit of thinking. Reopening bases to base flying units would seem to run counter to the whole ethos of ACE, so I assume any 'reactivation' would just be to ensure the airfield would be fit to deploy to -i.e. care and maintenance rather that forward deployed units.
A few idle thoughts about the more recently closed flying bases:
Bitburg - potentially but is 10nm from Spangdahlem really dispersing?
Hahn - commercial airport 1million + pax per annum
Rhein-Main - now Frankfurt Terminal 3
Sembach - no runway
Zweibrücken - now GA only + industrial/commercial development
Soesterburg - owned as a nature/archaeological reserve by Utrechts Landschap (a Dutch regional foundation focused on the conservation of natural and non-natural heritage in the Province of Utrecht)
Alconbury - runway partially dismantled
Bentwaters - potentially I suppose - HAS site still present I think
Upper Heyford - although runways still there as are HASs I think the housing and other civilian use makes it impossible.
Woodbridge - talk nicely to the pongos - HAS site still present I think
"To generate combat power from a number of locations to create dilemmas for
an adversary...I just need a runway, a ramp, a weapons trailer, a fuel bladder,
and a pallet of [Meals, Ready-to-Eat]. That’s maybe a little bit bold, but the
point is, we’ve got to be light, lean and agile.”
-- General CQ Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force
an adversary...I just need a runway, a ramp, a weapons trailer, a fuel bladder,
and a pallet of [Meals, Ready-to-Eat]. That’s maybe a little bit bold, but the
point is, we’ve got to be light, lean and agile.”
-- General CQ Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Bitburg - potentially but is 10nm from Spangdahlem really dispersing?
Hahn - commercial airport 1million + pax per annum
Rhein-Main - now Frankfurt Terminal 3
Sembach - no runway
Zweibrücken - now GA only + industrial/commercial development
Soesterburg - owned as a nature/archaeological reserve by Utrechts Landschap (a Dutch regional foundation focused on the conservation of natural and non-natural heritage in the Province of Utrecht)
Alconbury - runway partially dismantled
Bentwaters - potentially I suppose - HAS site still present I think
Upper Heyford - although runways still there as are HASs I think the housing and other civilian use makes it impossible.
Woodbridge - talk nicely to the pongos - HAS site still present I think
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AFAIK the German government has halted its post Cold War program to sell former military sites for other uses in order to keep some available for reactivation if needed a while ago.
We have an abundance of barely in use or closed airfields (both civvy and military) in the UK waiting to be sold to be turned into housing or industrial estates. Theoretically, how much work would it take to get one ready for a deployment of bombers or fighters?
As a close ally to the US, could the government give one of these airfields currently costing millions of pounds a year to maintain/preserve a compulsory purchase order and be made ready?
More a question than anything as someone outside the military that doesn't know all the pitfalls.
As a close ally to the US, could the government give one of these airfields currently costing millions of pounds a year to maintain/preserve a compulsory purchase order and be made ready?
More a question than anything as someone outside the military that doesn't know all the pitfalls.
There's all sorts of civilian stuff going on at Upper Heyford, felt pretty busy when I was there last year. Would make a right mess of the local airspace too...
Avoid imitations
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Finningley? I’ll get me coat…..
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There are no votes in defence until it is too late, especially with modern flash to bang times for new builds, new equipment, new recruiting, new training.
Only the bad guys understand this.
[and this old civvy, which makes me a bad guy I suppose]
Only the bad guys understand this.
[and this old civvy, which makes me a bad guy I suppose]
Why no mention of Duxford?
There is already an American Hangar there!
There is already an American Hangar there!
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I’d say Linton on Ouse, but the illegal immigrants would complain about the noise.
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Leuchars is perfect. Seeing as the amount of time USAFE seemed to divert in on a Fridays back in the day. The Links trust even hire out clubs for those who dont have them ;-)
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*Not to underestimate the ignorance, duplicity and sheer arrogance of the Home Office staffers.
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So:
Jehonville aka Bertrix (EBBX) - gliding activity possible outside military operating hours
Saint-Hubert (EBBU)
Weelde (EBWE) - civil flying club has concession to use when inactive