Lossie protest
 

Apparently RAF Leuchars is in the melting pot too. From what I remember, RAF Marham is too small to take any more Tornado squadrons and house the hundreds of additional people who would need to move there unless there was significant investment in new infrastructure. And RAF Leuchars is not big enough either - to cope with the Tornado OCU (XV?), another Tornado front line squadron (12, 14 or 617?) and the Typhoon build-up. RAF Lossiemouth on the other hand could accommodate up to 3 Typhoon sqns alongside both the Tornado OCU and one Tornado front line sqn were the two Tornado squadrons to be disbanded to be taken from Lossiemouth - the space to park aircraft in hangars and HAS sites already exists. With the closure of RAF Kinloss one imagines that there would also be plenty of surplus accommodation available nearby for any additional Servicemen and their families. Lossiemouth also has two fully serviceable runways and access to the UK's best air-to-ground bombing ranges.

You are implying the closure of 'St Andrew's Airport'; this would lead to the outrageous situation of certain HRHs having to travel to golf tournaments by road! The thought of it!

How many aircraft did 229 operate from the waterfront at RAF Leuchars again:hmm:

Two HAS sites and a LOT of modern infrastructure waiting new owners.

LOA.:E

Implement - plan - consider

Great way of doing things.

I can't see the logic, outside of misguided treasury grabbing and snatching, for trying to squeeze all we can on one lump of real estate. There has to be some degree of flexibility. For the number of R.A.F. airfields which have closed in the last 20 years and those already announced as due to close, I'm gobsmacked that people still think the R.A.F. is top heavy with infrastructure. Finningley, Abingdon, Coltishall, St. Mawgan, Chivenor, Brawdy, Church Fenton, Binbrook, Wattisham, Bruggen, Laarbruch, Wildenrath and Gutersloh. All were active and busy R.A.F. airfields during the 1980s. They're all now either in civilian hands or handed over to one or other of the other services, not necessarily for flying purposes. You'd have thought that with that amount of run down, not to mention; Wittering, Cottesmore and Kinloss also now to go, there'd be a sense of respite from chopping and hacking before there is no airfield infrastructure left!:uhoh:

FB:)

This works the other way round as well. The RAF Leuchars Golf Club is highly thought of they are very closely affiliated with the R&A. Ironically, the list of past Captains includes some familiar names from the Nimrod and Chinook threads! Will we now see those who spoil good walks attempt to run MoD? You never know, they may make a better job of it. They organise the Open pretty well, which is a better CV than most in MoD.

1980s
 

FB,

The 'Golden Age' you're talking about involved far more people in wedgewood blue and many more aircraft than today's RAF. With the additional personnel and airframes losses on the way due to SDSR, there is going to be even more real estate surplus to requirement. It's just a pity that the income generated by turning disused stations into light industrial estates goes to consolidated revenue rather than being reinvested in Defence to help balance the books.:(

If between 750,000 and 2,000,000 (depending on which 'rag' you read) march in opposition to Gulf War 2 with no effect I'm not sure 7,000 people marching in Moray will do any different. I wonder if this is more to do with the thought of the Army moving in instead .....

Anyway, I thought the SNP wanted full devolution from Westminster ..... surely they could pay to keep Lossie open (if it closes) themselves!:E

FB,
"or handed over to one or other of the other services"

Not us in the FAA, we don't have enough aircraft to fill our two stations. (yes two).
(Laugh)

Cheers

O G what a good idea, and we can call it Hms Fulmar;) http://usera.imagecave.com/scouse/Lo...ardroom(1).jpg

OG Don't you have HMS Gannet at Prestwick still?!:ok:

FB

Yet there is still some slack. Airfields like Leeming, Topcliffe and Waddington are hardly vying for the title of "most movements per day" or "most aircraft based here" awards, are they?

I'm not saying for a moment that these locations don't play an important role, nor do I want to see more airfields close, but the way things are going, the "chopping and hacking" is likely to continue...

It's not fair what'll happen to the airshows, it's bad enough as it is!:{

FB

Airshows? They will hold them somewhere exciting like Kinross or Abingdon the week after the annual Abington air show.

Has a decision been made yet on where JCA is going to be based? Lossiemouth or Marham, or somewhere else? Prestwick or Leuchars?

FB,

Prestwick is a civvy airfield/airport with a few navy squatters, hardly a FAA air station I'm sure you'll agree.

Cheers

PanMan, :Lossie obviously. It will be closest to the carriers in a Scottish constituency.:}

Cameron has invited the campaign group to Downing Street to discuss their concerns.:suspect:

FB

Best he stocks up on the jock pies then