Future F35C Bases (Pros/Cons)
 

L&G,

Curious to the hear the learned folks views, where should we put her/him? (being Pc). I believe a lot of the original requirements may have changed (ie now a carrier variant aircraft (not a stovl)).

One for discussion...

IT

A short one at that.

Heathrow or Gatwick?

they'll never come

we'll buy 24 F-18's instead

F35 Bases
 

;)

My station of choice whould be Akrotiri!

Yeovilton.

No point in the RAF getting them, and there won't be enough to go around anyway.

Quite true Willard, with 40 airframes seeming to be the overall number we can expect. If it is going to be 25 of those in service, then I imagine it will be, 2 x sqns 800 and 801 with 8 acft each and 8 or 9 for the HQ Trng Sqn, at Yeovilton. Unless, Lossiemouth is to revert to being HMS Fulmar again. As for the long term prospects of the R.A.F. That's anyone's guess.:{

FB:)

Much more likely to have a name ending in "Barracks."

Along with the former RAF Leuchars.

I most sincerely hope not diginagain, the thought of the Army descending on Leuchars, in particular, would not be a good idea!:uhoh:

FB:)

Despite my Army background, I appreciate that such a move will not be universally popular. However, plans are afoot to return 7 & 20 Armoured Brigades to the UK from Hohne and Paderborn respectively, and they've got to go somewhere. If you're not going to be able to fill parts of the estate, the Army can.

Perhaps Kinloss and Lossiemouth together, but would that alone be sufficient to acommodate just one Armoured Brigade?:confused:

FB:)

Each Brigade has around 60-100 tanks

easily park them all onto a taxi track at Lossie

there isn't the money for them to exercise anyway

Is it certain that 7 & 20 Bdes will be Armd on return? They may well end up as 7 & 20 Lt Bdes. Ergo no armour hangarage or access to SPTA required.

As for the carrier aircraft, somewhere near the carrier's home port. Since the Navy won't be able to justify Portsmouth AND Plymouth, they'll be down to Pompey and Faslane by then. So somewhere close to Pompey. Yeovilton or Odiham depending on who gets them.

Alternatively, no carriers means no carrier aircraft means no basing question.

You guys just aren't thinking laterally are you?

Re-open Debden or Hemswell, resurface and extend the runways, new officers' and SNCOs messes, new gynasium, new build MQ and, of course, refurbish and extend all the technical and admin buildings.

Easy.

Ahh, Yes!! But you see Siseman, old Plum, we're trying to second guess the decision process of the Fox and his chums back at the M.O.D. Den!!

In which case, all Tiffy and Tonka Sqns remaining, may well be squeezed into Marham and the entire Army squeezed into Scotland at Lossie and Leuchars!:hmm:

FB:)

Hemswell? I like that; good, expansion period airfield, an Officers' Mess well away from the the technical site and, thus, away from the oiks, and on a hill so a nice view for the days when there are no ac to fly! And Lincoln's not too far for a bit of Lager-scending and the Harry Potter chip shop!

Thorney Island fits the bill...... :ok:

Just need to chuck the Army out of it - mind you the locals might get the hump with some nice noisy jets being based there :E

Nowhere for them to play with up North though, Otterburn being the nearest range of any size.

Has anyone noticed that UK & German moorland looks nothing like the desert where we have deployed tanks over the last 20 years???

Tho from a strange angle you can convince yourself that Alnwick looks like Cairo

At least the Air Force is ahead of the game with the sand at Donna Nook and Pembrey!

Shame they are quiet as a mouse these days. No wonder there are rumours about their futures.