492nd & 494th FS stood down as of 9th April + 15 other sqn

[3Greens]

Ok then what else do they fly around?

You would be amazed. Aside of all technical/spare parts that cannot be sourced within theatre (ie European built vehicles, etc etc.) The US Military has always had a policy of making available to their personnel and families anything that can be bought in the US to be available on base - Yes I have witnessed pallets of bar-b-q coals being unloaded from a C5 at Mildenhall !

[Thunder]

Exactly, If you take away the fast jets then the a/c aren't there therefore no base is required, no base equals no personnel therefore nothing to support.

I would hate to see any any of bases close down, but once you bring the problems into the public eye it's very hard to cover them up again. They'll be a lot of Senators/Congressman back in the USA wanting to know why these bases in Europe are still open while the ones in their own backyard are closing.

[stuie492]

You lot need to stop all this..my gf whos in the airforce stationed at lakenheath reports the base isnt closing!!! makes funny reading all these posts..but keep posting as myself and other airforce friends are watching this intensely lol

[POL]

You lot need to stop all this..my gf whos in the airforce stationed at lakenheath reports the base isnt closing!!! makes funny reading all these posts..but keep posting as myself and other airforce friends are watching this intensely lol

No-one actually said the base is closing, all pure speculation

[jakdaw]

When the whole point of sequestration was putting it there as an empty threat, beacause a solution would always be found before it happened, how anyone knows what will happen surprises me. Stuie I hope you are right, but the people on the base seem to know more than the decision makers in the USA. Its a sad world we live in but the US will make mass savings and people will lose jobs, where and when I wont speculate, positively or negatively, as no one knows yet its all purely discussion. As for telling people to stop, its an open message board for people to post what they like, for example, how about the U.S. gifting the 75 Eagles to the RAF, would solve their problem of oversea basing and ours of waiting for F-35? lol

[Thunder]

You lot need to stop all this..my gf whos in the airforce stationed at lakenheath reports the base isnt closing!!! makes funny reading all these posts..but keep posting as myself and other airforce friends are watching this intensely lol

Make you're mind up you tell us to stop posting then tell us to keep posting.

I don't know why you say it makes funny reading as it is very real. The USA are broke and savings need to be made. Unfortunately it isn't those based or work at any base that decide weather or not it stays open or shuts, but the suits back on Capitol Hill and the t.

[li'l spotter]

You lot need to stop all this..my gf whos in the airforce stationed at lakenheath reports the base isnt closing!!! makes funny reading all these posts..but keep posting as myself and other airforce friends are watching this intensely lol

It's not very funny for the pilots who's squadrons have been stood down! Imagine if that was you! The base isn't closing yet but there is a possibility.

[Ronald Reagan]

I remember asking a Stike Eagle pilot a few years back what he thought the future of Lakenheath would be, his reply was ''we would probably be the last to know''. But he did say he thought the 493rd would come to an end first though all of it was just his opinion, it will all come down to politics in the US, bases there will have many American politicans fighting for them, but here they won't!

[mirage 2000]

Sorry if already asked when the F 15 squadron's get stood down will the remain at the Heath or will they be sent back to the US? Again very sorry if this has already been asked

regards

mirage 2000

[davedubya]

Sorry if already asked when the F 15 squadron's get stood down will the remain at the Heath or will they be sent back to the US? Again very sorry if this has already been asked

regards

mirage 2000

I would think they just get put in their hangars and maintained until they scraped enough petrol money together again.

[Snoop 95]

Confirmation from the wing that F15E's grounded until 30th September "at least". It will then be down to allocation of the 2014 FY budget funds.
Article from the East Anglian Daily Times quotes a base spokesman http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/lakenheath_f ... _1_2020779" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[reaperops]

48th FW aircraft switch to a tiered readiness posture

Posted 4/17/2013 Updated 4/17/2013

by Tech. Sgt. Carissa Lee
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/17/2013 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --

As one element of the current sequestration-related budget challenges affecting the Department of Defense, flying hours were curtailed for aircraft Air Force-wide, including those at the 48th Fighter Wing.

Some of the wing's aircraft have been placed in the lowest level of readiness and stopped flying as of April 8.

"This tiered approach to aircraft readiness is necessary to meet the immediate constraints placed upon the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. We do not yet know how the budgets in Fiscal Year 2014 and beyond will be impacted, but the skies over Lakenheath will be a little quieter for the time being," said Col. Kyle Robinson, Commander of the 48th Fighter Wing.

"Our focus is on maintaining the most capable and ready force possible within the current budget constraints," Robinson added. "These cuts will be painful, and they will have a significant impact on our people, our readiness and our infrastructure."

Robinson stressed that the focus is on maintaining the most capable and ready force possible within the current budget constraints. "To the best of our ability, the Liberty Wing will remain responsive to known operational requirements, but we will have a diminished capacity to respond to the unknown," he said.

For the first time since the Air Force became a separate service in 1947, it has implemented a tiered-readiness concept for the active duty force, where only units preparing to deploy in support of current operations are trained to be fully mission capable. This stand-down of fighter squadrons will also decrease the number of qualified aircrew to execute these missions.

Robinson reiterated that with the cut-back, the wing's ability to support training, educational, and operational events with NATO and participating nations will be diminished.

"Unfortunately, we will not have as many opportunities to work with our allies in a training capacity because of the fiscal constraints," Robinson said.

"But I can assure you, the 48th Fighter Wing will continue to provide ready, responsive forces to meet the needs of the nation," he added. "Despite fiscal cutbacks, we are constantly planning and evaluating options to better use available resources for providing leadership with effective response options.

[TankBuster]

Worrying times for all the personnel & families of the 48th FW. Who knows what the future holds for them & the base?

I cant help feeling that there are some big changes around the corner.
With the E's on the ground not being used, comes the question... Are they really needed here? I think that question will definitely be asked at the end of September. If the jets haven't flown for 5-6 months & made a saving by doing so, then the politicians will rub their hands together saying "look at the money we've saved & did we ever need to use those aircraft during that time?"... "No, then what the hell are they doing there?"

Once they start saving money, they wont stop. It will be cut back to the bone like everything else has been! Unfortunately thats the way of the world today. Changing times & all that .


TankBuster

[welshandy]

Found this on BBC news website http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-22104909" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[swingy]

Some folks in the know here in the US have suggested that the 48th may take this opportunity to implement a force wide series of E model upgrades that would otherwise have been done piecemeal. The feeling was also that the military are playing political hardball to get a better 2014 budget allocation. That said there has certainly been a noticiable reduction in flying at a number of locations for sure.

[Headancer]

And if they do close it will decimate the local economy will it not ?

It's not just base personnel but local shopkeepers, business, etc.

Personally I cannot see the justification for keeping open IF you havn't flown for 6 months.

In Desert Storm they deployed Langley F15s within 2/3 days, if LN was kept on care and maintenance why not do the same ?

[mirage41]

Within current photography I note that hotdog shows a number of 492FS F15E getting airborne on Wednesday this week.

Does any one know if this is a policy change, or just essential to maintain aircrew hours.

[Snoop 95]

I asked the same question on a previous thread and was informed that it is to maintain hours or 'currency'.

[Gary]

Should be pilots currency flights, not sure what the USAF minimum flight requirement is per month etc. But I don't think the Americans are stupid enough or can afford to allow their pilots to loose currency on type. Give it a couple of weeks and 494th should start doing the same.

[mirage41]

Thanks Gary & Snoop, that's exactly what I thought.