Lyneham vs Benson for SH
 

After all the money spent already on Benson for the Merlin and Puma Force, OCFs and MSHATF location - and - the cost of refurb'ing Lyneham, surely the sensible option is to move the Ch47 to Benson, forming a superbase there, (where the sims are!!) and leaving the delapidated Lyneham to the pongos for a change. Yes I know - space might be a bit tight for 3 x Ch47 sqns/OCF to move in but there is that lovely barn development at the end of the airfield that would make a superb sqn/force HQ and the compulsory purchase order would ensure we get it at an affordable price. Of course their airships AEF sqn(s) would have to move out - woops there a show stopper! to make room. And don't worry about the circuit congestion problem, all we have to do is re-activate the airfield side of Abingdon to provide the capacity as an RLG. Jobs a good-un ... and the Abingdon army units would be right on site for mutual training ... god this plan really is sensible ... anyone listening ? or is that the sound of a black saloon on my drivew.....

Hmmh - so you want cost neutral do you?

How much for Dishforth Airfield (keep the barracks to re-house those units coming back from Germany) but the airfield real estate right on the A1.
Yeovilton, lets 'sell' it to the RAF (remember it belongs to Defence Estates and not the Fisheads) or get them to sort Lyneham out in 'Swap Shop' style exchange.

Odiham (even after all off its put back to original state costs will be worth a bob or two).
So that is the sale/money in the kitty - now lets look at somewhere cheap to buy:

Let me think, Scottish PM, employment opportunities required in Scotland, significantly reduced low flying complaints, SPTA has been outgrown by technology and equipment (and is overused as all of the other training areas get reduced (e.g. Germany)). Lots of (albeit relatively small) mountains to prepare crews for future deployments etc. Not too far away from the sea for the Junglies to play (most JMCs take place around there anyway and the boats of the Navy can't afford the fuel to go anywhere else apart from the North/Irish sea) And in comparison to Odiham land is alot cheaper.

So FS and Melchett, I raise your Middle East superbase to a Scottish one - Kinloss or Leuchars (loads of room on both especially when the Tonks reduce their size to pay for Typhoon/JCA). And I also raise you a new large training area north of the boarder (which if succesful will free up SPTA for the Green Party and much need housing development/immigration centres where possible.

Sound like a plan?

I understood that Benson was going to be a hub for superdooperlynx, Lyneham for RAF cabs and What a shame for Apache, however St.Athan looks good...:}

And how is Odiham supposed to maintain it's commitment to Herrick, Kindle and UK tasking and training when this move happens?
I can't see us being able to afford am overlap in maintenance etc on 2 differrent bases during the changeover. Let's face it, JSF will be in service before we move....
We can't even afford to send CSROs to a £70 conference......or £138 on mini-gun covers.

The return to original state argument for Odious is apparently a red herring. Plenty of space down there for Benson's ac! Might even be able to do the development side within the budget?????

In all seriousness though when reading Melchett's posts I couldn't help but think about the withdrawal west of Suez - damn short termist thinking!:ugh:

Space, yes, planning permission to build on it, no. WRT returning Odi to the state it was in when we had it given to us by the landowner all those years ago, well, I think that if there was a way round it, we would have found it by now, to cash in, and flog the land to a developer!

I like the Scottish argument, though, I'd go at the drop of a hat. Nice cheap houses (compared to Surrey/Hants), the scenery is cool, and there will be fewer low flying complaints too!

In the meantime... I won't hold my breath of any major moves of Benson or Odi assets within at least 7 years, I reckon.

Don't forget that in Germany in the late eighties and early nineties, no sooner was the paint dry on a new hangar, or the concrete set on a new dispersal than that Unit was off lock, stock and barrel back to Blighty. Investment in infrastructure, proximity to training facilities, conveninence for Service families and cost effectiveness are just 4 factors that NEVER feature when Service Chiefs and Politicians are out to make a name for themselves. If you think of the worst combination possible, add the disruption of suppporting fast tempo Operations worldwide, insert a touch of random management and it should be easy to figure out where you will all be in 5 years - not forgetting to factor FLynx as a major influence in the new location and then immediately cancel that Programme once the site has been named.

14T on the doorstep, as is Tain, and Garvie for the BNAG; even Benbecula if you want to get technical and measure the bnag! Plenty of parking space in the North and South woods. Keep an eye on ISK next year. (get your bookings in early!)

Doesn't matter what happens, will be a hideous compromise anyway.

Lyneham - outrageously expensive to provide sufficient SFA, hence no cash to upgrade the cr*p infra and adapt it to reflect how the SH world should (rather than does) operate.

Status Quo - does anyone really think MoD will cough up the millions it will need to bring Odious and Benson up to reasonable condition, let alone make the adaptations they really need (ops rooms for the combined forces etc) to move forward into the future? Kidding yourselves. If decision is not to move, we will still have people in cr*p SFA, veal crates at Benson because of limited accommodation and leaking sub-standard working accommodation all round.

Such a shame - if anything could come out of all the Lean/Transformation stuff that has gone on, it is that for us to continue to operate we must invest and update/change our infra to reflect that we are no longer fighting WWII or the Cold War. That opportunity will be missed, guaranteed...:ugh:

Lets re-open Honington again

Nice new Slam blocks at Honington, on the ASP as well. Roll out of bed straight into the cab....

When I was there Benson was being kept open purely because "you can't move TQF"; then it was "we need an airfield close to Strike". All the world's odds and sods then came in - MCSU, TCW, etc etc then it was "you can't close Benson because of all these units". Ah, the wheel turns, then turns, and then turns again.

Mind you, the thought of some muddy pongo using my old office next the Plastic PRU Spit makes my blood curdle!