RAF Leuchars
 

The Ministry of Defence has said that no decision has been made regarding the future of RAF Leuchars in Fife.

In a statement, the MoD said: "The strategic defence and security review means that Kinloss and two other bases will not be required by the RAF.
"No decisions have been made on which bases or on any future use."

BBC News - MoD says no decision yet over RAF Leuchars future

As seen in yesterday's Scotsman:

MoD 'to sacrifice Leuchars in jobs trade-off' - Scotsman.com

Jack

U J, i see that the Scotsman says that Leuchars is home to many Typhoons........ whilst showing Tornados :confused:

Maybe that photo is rather old? There even appears to be a Bulldog hiding at the back.

The BBC are showing Jaguars!

Logic would suggest Kinloss, Leeming and Wittering. Not that this is going to be decided by logic...

I don't think Wittering will be closing, it has minimal flying going on now and none as of mid-December. It has taken over many of the functions that used to be carried out at RAF Stafford including

No 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing

No 71 (Inspection and Repair) Squadron
No 93 (Expeditionary Armament) Squadron
No 5001 Squadron
No 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron



85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing
Headquarters Squadron
No 1 (Expeditionary Logistics) Squadron
No 2 (Mechanical Transport) Squadron
No 3 (Mobile Catering) Squadron
Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Sqn



Further to that, it was said when I was there that the airfield is leased from the Burghley Estate and, if closed, has to be returned to them in the condition it was in when it was given to the military in 1916. Ie no buildings and lots of green fields!

That photo was taken in 2000.

Lets just hope miltary requirement overrules social engineering (retiring for a naivety check!).

I heard Liam Fox say he wasn't responsible for regional policy and any basing decisions would be founded in hard-headed logic (aka finance). Sub-text was that if for example closing Lossie made a bigger contribution to solving MOD's financial woes than closing Leuchars then to reverse the decision would need additional money from elsewhere to make good the difference - now there's naivety for you!

Rakshasa,

It's an interesting parallel universe in which the 'logical' basing solution for the future Fast Jet fleet involves 3 stns which don't currently operate the aircraft!

R L E,

...er, I think you'll find that Rakshasa was saying that Kinloss, Leeming and Wittering are the logical 3 bases to CLOSE!

Especially given the quote from MOD in the original post saying that KINLOSS and 2 other bases will "not be required"!

What Biggus said. :ok:


Although given A2QFI's points, especially the land being part of Burghley Park, my logic might be a tad faulty.

Oops, my bad!! (as the yoof say). Sorry for doubting your logic Rakshasa!

However, as A2QFI says, I think the A4 Hub would prove v expensive to move - there's a lot of people there.

Regarding the sale of the land, I think the magic date is 2022 and before that we'd have to offer it to the original landowner at a well-below market rate.

ZZZZZZZZZZ

ATFQ - it may not even be that many yet.

[QUOTEAs for Leuchars, you couldn't give it to the Army, it is far too nice!][/QUOTE]

Absolutely, can you imagine visiting an Infantry Battalion or something like that on St. Andrews, Gosh!

This is why Cottesmore, Kinloss and Leeming should be the three R.A.F. Bases to face the chop.:{ Certainly not Leuchars and Lossiemouth.;)

FB:)

This is what the Army (or at least CDS) thinks:

General doubts feasibility of bringing all troops home from Germany | UK news | The Guardian

"Defence officials today referred to two other air force bases in Scotland - RAF Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth - which, they said, could be used by troops now based in Germany. However, it is far from clear whether army commanders will want so many soldiers to be based in Scotland."

It's unsuprising to see the SDSR is turning into one giant balls up already. This is what happens when you make decisions before actually looking at all the implications.

One of the reasons I sugested Leeming, (sorry Leemingites,) is it's proximity to Catterick. It would certainly make more sense than shutting Leuchars or Lossiemouth down and all the job losses and expensive moves that would entail.

It was always thus.

I remember the 1975 Redundancy Scheme QUOTE "Positively the last Redundancy Scheme the RAF will ever have."UNQUOTE.

Within a few years they were writing to people made Redundant asking if they would like to rejoin. A few more years and there was a new Redundancy Scheme.

It wasn't all bad news though as these Schemes did enable the Service to rid itself of some of the Personnel who had been trained during the tenure of the CinC Training who had declared at a CFS Dinner "There is no such thing as a bad Student - there are only Bad Instructors!!" Ergo no Students could be failed.

There will, however, come a time when the reducing number of Personnel still Serving will conclude that there is little chance of a balanced career in a vastly reduced RAF. They will almost certainly then conclude that they should seek a career elsewhere.

Here's a suggestion which hasn't been run up the old flagpole as of yet; Would it not be likely that the Air Force Board and that, are considering Scampton as one of the codemned 3 bases!?

I hate to suggest it, but historic imperative aside, Scampton has before been described as needing a lot of money bring up its accomodation to an appropriate standard. Also, its nearly all lodger units here. The RAFAT could, I'd have thought, be slid up to Leeming. The HHA Ltd people likewise and I understand that they are already looking for a more suiteable home for the IUKADGE operations.:ok:

FB:)