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Marham’s future
An article in today, s Daily Mail ( yes I know ) reports that our esteemed Minister Of Defence, one Gavin Williamson, has threatened to close Marham, where millions have been spent on F35 upgrades, in a spending spat with Liz Truss in whose constuency Marham is. It is suggested that F 35 will be moved to another base. ( such as ? ) Now that, Mr Williamson, seems to be a really cunning plan, for outstandingly good operational and economic reasons, or have I missed something? Yes, we need to spend more, a lot more , on defence, but spending on a base move, purely to make a personal point to a fellow minister, seems somewhat crass. |
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a007c2f73f.jpg
Will get removed, but so true. Why people believe the rubbish in it is unbelievable. |
Cosford, in his own constituency. That would keep his phones busy. :)
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After spending lots upgrading Leuchars from Tornado to Typhoon, it shut and the Typhoons moved to Lossiemouth and millions more were spent upgrading Lossiemouth, just because some MP moaned. So I wouldn't be surprised if Marham closed.
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Plenty of empty bases in RAF Lincolnshire. Maybe room could be found at Scampton. Re open Binbrook. East Kirby would be good as it would nice to two bases operating Lancaster’s. |
There'll be a spare aircraft carrier along soon. Just moor it off the Norfolk coast.
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Re open Binbrook. |
Waddington has a nice big runway. |
Using Waddington would be totally unacceptable as that nice long runway would be wasted on the F35. Like the carrier idea, but park if a bit further south. It about time RAF Dogger Bank got a runway. |
Well if you halved the order for F-35B and used the spare cash to order more Typhoons to be based at CY and LM, then there should be enough cash to move the remaining carrier based wing to.... RNAS Yeovilton?........ |
Originally Posted by BigGreenGilbert
(Post 10283880)
should be good for a few years - took the MoD nearly 2 years to get it resurfaced - the new A14 through Cambridgeshire is only taking a little less than that :ugh: Perhaps Cranwell would like to have some operational aircraft based there? |
Originally Posted by ZH875
(Post 10283826)
After spending lots upgrading Leuchars from Tornado to Typhoon, it shut and the Typhoons moved to Lossiemouth and millions more were spent upgrading Lossiemouth, just because some MP moaned. So I wouldn't be surprised if Marham closed.
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They'll be sharing at LKN - makes so much financial sense!
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The major factor will be finding an alternative airfield still in the vicinity of Sandringham.
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I really hope it doesn't go, for purely nostalgic reasons. I spent six very happy years there in the 70s
Cue a few "El Adem with grass" posts, but I could never understand that - I loved it. |
What about Linton. In the 1950’s L-o-O was home to 44+ Sabres and 12 Meteor NF 11/14’s. So plenty of hangar and air space.The Vale of York AIAA should stand for Area of Infrequent Aerial Activity ! There are lots of excellent pubs within ten miles and locals are friendly. |
What about RNAS Ford? I will help cut the grass.:eek:
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Originally Posted by turbroprop
(Post 10283899)
Using Waddington would be totally unacceptable as that nice long runway would be wasted on the F35. Like the carrier idea, but park if a bit further south. It about time RAF Dogger Bank got a runway. |
Originally Posted by ZH875
(Post 10283826)
After spending lots upgrading Leuchars from Tornado to Typhoon, it shut and the Typhoons moved to Lossiemouth and millions more were spent upgrading Lossiemouth, just because some MP moaned. So I wouldn't be surprised if Marham closed.
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Originally Posted by ZH875
(Post 10283826)
After spending lots upgrading Leuchars from Tornado to Typhoon, it shut and the Typhoons moved to Lossiemouth and millions more were spent upgrading Lossiemouth, just because some MP moaned. So I wouldn't be surprised if Marham closed.
Wouldn't it seem more likely that they moved the Typhoons to Lossiemouth to give Lossiemouth a continued purpose after ceasing Tornado GR4 Ops at the base, while they messed around for a few years to get the Nimrod replacement ready which was planned for Lossie? |
OK, joking aside, they won’t close Marham, we all know that would be absurd, even if Williamson doesn’t, ! However just what required the spending of 250m Gbp. (HAS perhaps but what else? ) When I was at Marham we had four squadrons of Valiants, 3 bomber plus a tanker unit, large numbers of “ special weapons” both U.K. and American. Enormous facilities. So so what was all this money spent on for these little jets ? |
I could guess very sophisticated simulator facilities, which don’t come cheap, for a start. |
Runways that don't melt when the snow blow blows?
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General Schwarzkopf relates in his biography the time, as a junior officer, he was sent to explain to a state senator all the very good reasons an army base in the state would be closed. After the presentation the senator thanked Norman for coming and explaining so well. He then gave his reply 'son, over my dead fu**king body'.
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Stop fretting folks! When 'The man of the People' gets into power, he will close all of them anyway. |
Originally Posted by RetiredBA/BY
(Post 10284820)
OK, joking aside, they won’t close Marham, we all know that would be absurd, even if Williamson doesn’t, ! However just what required the spending of 250m Gbp. (HAS perhaps but what else? ) When I was at Marham we had four squadrons of Valiants, 3 bomber plus a tanker unit, large numbers of “ special weapons” both U.K. and American. Enormous facilities. So so what was all this money spent on for these little jets ? |
They've got a nice Victor K2 sitting on the parade square. I'd put in a bid for that if I could move it down to Cornwall!
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Originally Posted by Bing
(Post 10285252)
Sticking my neck out, it may be that things have needed refurbishing since the 'recent' departure of the Valiants...
So, just wondering what the new money has been spent on in preparation for the Lightning 2. |
Have they rebuilt the NAAFI, that was a sure sign a base was going to close, plus runway resurfacing, oh hang on a minute didn't they recently do just that ?.
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...those jets do need a fairly fast broadband connection and that doesn't come cheap!
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Originally Posted by MPN11
(Post 10284826)
I could guess very sophisticated simulator facilities, which don’t come cheap, for a start. Ha ha nice one... |
Originally Posted by RetiredBA/BY
(Post 10285287)
Yes, of course, it’s a long time, 53 years, since the Valiants went, BUT, Marham has been in continuous use since then as very large base for squadrons of Victor tankers and the Tornado. So, just wondering what the new money has been spent on in preparation for the Lightning 2. Runways, buildings, and maintenance facilities. I'd guess a lot of it was work that needed to be done if the base was going to stay open post Tornado, but no-one was willing to invest until that decision was made. |
Originally Posted by RetiredBA/BY
(Post 10285287)
Yes, of course, it’s a long time, 53 years, since the Valiants went, Time flies! I was demobbed from 214 @ Marham as the Valiants were scrapped. :) February 1965 |
On the 8th December 1964, shortly after we had left our refuelling drogue on a Lightning from Leconfield. we touched down at Marham in Valiant XD815 and found that the aircraft had been grounded.
We then drove down to Honington, our home base, which was having the runway resurfaced. I believe that this was the last Valiant tanker operation and there was probably a grateful Lightning pilot for that. |
Originally Posted by Fareastdriver
(Post 10285489)
On the 8th December 1964, shortly after we had left our refuelling drogue on a Lightning from Leconfield. we touched down at Marham in Valiant XD815 and found that the aircraft had been grounded.
We then drove down to Honington, our home base, which was having the runway resurfaced. I believe that this was the last Valiant tanker operation and there was probably a grateful Lightning pilot for that. I thought the last Valiant sortie was on. Dec 9th, after we were recalled from a hilohi in 865 of 207 sqn. Perhaps the tankers were were grounded before the bombers with our SACEUR commitment. Indeed time does fly, or at least it did for me for another 33 years ! |
Woops, , wrong button! |
Originally Posted by RetiredBA/BY
(Post 10285520)
Perhaps the tankers were were grounded before the bombers with our SACEUR commitment. Regarding refurbishment of a base. Apart from refurbishment and closure, a role change is the traditional excuse for a refurb. It goes like this: A unit is posted on to an existing facility but the facility needs essential changes to make it fit for purpose, things like carpets and a new doorway for the bosses office. Some years later, say 2, the new boss wants but can't have as there is no money. A couple of decades later the original is still in use as it was OK for the previous X years. Come a new role and it is clearly totally unsuitable so . . . |
I thought the last Valiant sortie was on. Dec 9th, after we were recalled from a hilohi in 865 of 207 sqn. What I remember was that as we crossed the threshold there were the lights of the Station Commander's car stopped in front of a Valiant that was approaching the holding point. We heard that he had driven in front of it because he could not contact Air Traffic to stop it taking off when he was told that they were grounded. About 30 minutes after we landed a bomber landed and that was that. It was in the dark at about 19.00hrs so does that tie up with your memories. |
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