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:)

'St Andrews International Airport':

Airport plan for RAF Leuchars revealed - Scotsman.com News

Funnily enough RAF Leuchars already DID a nice wee trade in biz jet handling a few years ago don't, know what the score is today though.

Given that Leeming is on the edge of Europes biggest garrison complex, why not keep it as an airhead and save the ball-breaking journey to Brize? Just lob the Airbus/C-17/A400/EasyCharter into EGXE and pick up/drop off the boys and girls from homeplate. Leeming is right on the A1M. (Make the positioning flight an OCU trip if you like). In fact, why not move the Loggy and AAC Regt's from Gutersloh to Leeming (Hambleton Barracks, anyone? - the Loggy's could run the AMC). If there is any room left at Leeming flog off Fulford Barracks in York and move them up too. Or if Linton closes move Fulford there.

I know, shut up Baldrick.

Nurse, nurse, I havn't had my medication today .....

If, like FB, we are offering up our own suggestions for RAF bases to close, in order to make up the "...Kinloss and two other bases...." quota, then I suggest.......

ST MAWGAN!

Still an RAF base, although lord knows why. As far as I am aware, any American involvement having returned to the US, all that is left is the survival school (or whatever it is called now). This must have a vastly reduced output these days, given that the number of flying Sqns is continually being reduced, and must be capable of being relocated to a variety of locations elsewhere!

Standing by to be corrected/informed/flamed, as ever!

Dear Biggus,

Believe it or not St Mawgan, survival wise, is very busy. The old system of it being for aircrew mates ended some time ago. Its remit nowadays is training for ALL personell who could be captured buy the bad guys i.e. everybody! It therefore has a lot of students awaiting instruction- 1000's in fact.

Ok, I'll hold my hand up, I've been corrected/informed (thankfully not flamed)... but could it not still be moved onto a site occupied by other units, as part of a cost saving measure, with St Mawgan then closing?

RB

You speak the truth - but SERE doesn't need to be on an airfield.

The Scotsman article is yet another one of their contrived pieces, hoping to stir things up a bit.
And anyway, it was Ryan Air who were looking at Leuchars a while back not EJ.

I still suspect that if Cameron 'lets' the MOD close Leuchars, the coalition government could reach breaking point.

According to the BBC tonight, I notice, unsurprisingly, Whitehall cuts have been reduced and there will be around 100,00 fewer job cuts. :mad:

Apparently the next set of rumours to break will be about the possibility of closing Shawbury....

Lossie and Kinloss both BLACK @ 2200hrs, Leuchars OK; better for QRA, or just better equipped?

...Or maybe just further south and not getting it as bad?

If it does close can we have the Treasure pagoda relocate to Newcastle?;) Lovely little take away that!

Where will Tiger and the others park their jets during the Open/Dunhill etc? :{

Dundee for tiger and friends. Personally I cannot believe that the scotsman even published that piece of fantasy, as was previously mentioned FR looked at this some time ago and it was rejected due to the reasons already quoted, the only traffic that leuchars would handle would be the occasional golf related aircraft, pity mind as would be great for me being 4 miles away.

Well given where the current weather's coming from, most Russian airfields are probably Black too, so no need to worry...:}

"Lossie and Kinloss both BLACK @ 2200hrs, Leuchars OK; better for QRA, or just better equipped?"

Clutching at straws? Lossiemouth is just in the final stages of building up its full snow and ice clearance capability. Once this is in place (over the next week or so I hear) both runways will be kept open, and all squadron operating surfaces and taxiways - 24/7. So no peace and quiet over the winter period!

Quote:
Lossie and Kinloss both BLACK @ 2200hrs, Leuchars OK
Perhaps they are saving money and not clearing the runway, where as Leuchars has to because of Q

12" snow fell in Fife yesterday.:rolleyes:

It still is an MDA Yes?:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Not enough parking for them all. When Leuchars was out of action some of the golf stars and celebs landed at Dundee, but their aircraft had to leave and park up elsewhere.

ZZZZZZZZZZ