Defence review 56 sites to close by 2040
 

Just broke on BBC, seems a long way off to announce closures. I guess that leaves the RAF with Brize, Waddington, Coningsby, Marham, Odiham and a training base somewhere.

http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...pt-16-a-4.html

Gives full details of closures

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37902141

RAF escapes pretty lightly from that lot, all closures previously announced and confirmation that it is Halton airfield to go.

a lot of previous RAF sites are for the chop though, among them;

Abingdon
Chivenor
Brawdy
Hullavington
Colerne
Dishforth
Tern Hill




And still NO mention of Linton On Ouse?

Add Spitalgate.

Previously an OCTU and WRAF training camp

I curb my aged whimpering by reminding myself that the RAF is 1/3 the size it was when I left, and most places I ever worked/lived are now dead and buried. My wife could expand the list considerably*.

I recall staffing something at MoD about the closure of Upavon, and how it was deemed fundamental to RAF History. I also recall reading some impassioned writings/writhings from VVSOs on the topic.

* Jointly: Feltwell, Manby, Strubby, Binbrook, Tengah, Watton, West Drayton, Uxbridge, Bentley Priory, Upwood, Locking, Lyneham, Bracknell, Adastral [;)]

So, do we assume front line bases are the following:

Fast jets - Lossie, Coningsby, Marham
Basic/Advanced fast jet training - (Linton?), Valley
Tanker/Transport - Brize
Surveillance/Intelligence - Waddo
Maritime - Lossie
Helicopters - Odiham/Benson


Will there be any further changes?

Swinderby, Locking, West Raynham, Newton, Bishops Court, Ty-Croes, Saxa Vord for myself. As for the rest, most of the places I worked at are gone or have been out sourced to contractors. Neatishead (CRC) and Coltishall (accommodation), both sections at Coningsby and the building at Henlow I worked in is on the Airfield site. Could chuck Hereford and Bentley Priory on the list as I did courses there as well. Only two sites I actually worked at are still going, Trimingham and Spadeadem.

Lindholme, Hemswell, Yatesbury, Compton Bassett, Middleton-St.-George, Thornaby, Binbrook, Watton, Bassingbourne, Locking, Gaydon, Finningly...........

You are forgetting North Luffenham (St George's Barracks), Swanton Morley (Robertson Barracks), Debden (Carver Barracks), Woodbridge (Rock Barracks).

Rotary beyond Wildcat and Merlin is still to be finalised looking at the Army pages on this paper.

Full report here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...tate_FINAL.pdf

Yeovilton will be chocker with Wildcat (RN & AAC) and Culdrose with Merlin fleet. Don't see where else wokka and Puma can go apart from continuation of Odiham and Benson. They dovetail now with wokka OCU moving to Benson and Odiham being full with another 12 cabs, along with the mk6 training centre currently being constructed. Was there not talk previous of Middle Wallop being looked at for closure?

I suspect Merryfield will be a bit busier - possibly hosting capacity from Yeovilton?

Meanwhile, although we see some closures, don't forget that 90% of the Defence Estate is staying open...

Kinloss to remain "open"?

I can't imagine that CU will have any more Merlins than it had in the 70s/early 80s with Gazelles of 705, SKs of 706 and the four pinger squadrons and the Wessex of 771, plus the 750 Jetstreams. We had LH and RH circuits running together most days then ;)

It's pretty quiet at the moment. I was there last month.

and Scampton of course.

Arc

So, does that mean CHF moving to Culdrose? That will be news to them...

RAF Mildenhall, Alconbury and Molesworth among MOD sites to be sold - BBC News

Ministry of Defence sites for sale

• RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk
• RAF Barnham, Suffolk
• RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire
• RAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire
• Kneller Hall, Twickenham
• Claro and Deverell barracks, Ripon, North Yorkshire
• Lodge Hill, Kent
• Craigiehall, Edinburgh
• HMS Nelson Wardroom, Portsmouth
• Hullavington Airfield, Wiltshire
• MOD Felton, London

Surely they could utilize one of those for London's third runway.

Apparently an MP was overheard mentioning that one base that has recently had a simulator built there would be closed - Odiham fits that bill and the MP had just been there.

What they need to do is reopen Lyneham as an airfield and put the AH force and maybe some SF assets in there. It is now only the REME trg center as the tri-service tech trg school didn't appear to survive first contact. The solar farm is allegedly not making much money and Lyneham is perfectly placed for access to SPTA for helicopter trg.

Wonder where the Commando Logisitics Regiment will go when they close Chivenor (again)!

Shouyld never have closed Greenham Common as that would have been a perfect 3rd runway for London.