Why RAF Boscombe Down?

[Bucky P]

This flight has passengers who are confirmed as having the virus, previous flights had passengers from infected areas who were at possible risk of having it.

You had better inform all the news channels of this then, and the NHS, as they are reporting that all confirmed cases remain in Japan and all on board this aircraft have tested negative.

My mistake, I thought I heard on the radio this morning that some had been confirmed as having the virus!

[Bob DeBilda]

Has no-one taken into account the direction of a rather strong breeze?

Why struggle with a crosswind and then struggle with a diversion to a alternate airfield that’s not prepared for the logistics of such an arrival.

Boscombe - dead quiet and straight into the wind. A couple more hours on a bus with a WC is hardly an inconvenience...

Arthur

Smart thinking Arthur!

[Bob DeBilda]

Could be to reduce the risk to a large RAF station community.

Agreed, perhaps the "powers that be" have determined that the returnees from the Diamond Princess are at a higher risk of being infected/infectious than those evacuated from Wuhan so handling the flight at Boscombe Down protects the community at Brize Norton and the station's ability to support 24/7/365 operations.

Very true Richard. I quite agree.

[baz1]

We also had a 747 in at Scampton in the past.

B747-400 G-BNLT Named City of Lincoln in 1991 I believe it took a party of school children on a flight around the uk.

[roughcutter]

Any one know which military bases can handle 747 400s aside from Brize, Fairford, Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Marham and MoD Boscombe Down, does not look like the commercial airfields can afford the disruption

I’ve seen a 747 freighter at Waddington in the past. (Diversion from Mildenhall).

Liverpool?

[king2042]

Any one know which military bases can handle 747 400s aside from Brize, Fairford, Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Marham and MoD Boscombe Down, does not look like the commercial airfields can afford the disruption

Doncaster, ex RAF Finningly, 747 Cargos are in and out quite regularly, plus the airports not exactly busy.

[burleysway]

How long is Boscombe’s runway?

[Mike]

How long is Boscombe’s runway?

Hold on for a minute and I'll Google it if you like?

[Mike]

10,529 feet :- http://www.ukairfields.org.uk/runway-lengths.html

[king2042]

10,529 feet :- http://www.ukairfields.org.uk/runway-lengths.html

Whats that in double decker busses?

[martin condon]

Runway 05/23 is 10,538 feet long and 17/35 is 6,773 feet long.

[Richard E]

How long is Boscombe’s runway?

In round numbers 05/23 is 10,500 feet in length and 17/35 is 6,300 feet in length.

Health warning: different publications will give slightly different figures.

[22A]

Wittering has had 747s in the past.
For today it could then be left at the main gate - A1 to Knottingley - M62 Westwards and then onto the Wirral.
An easier/shorter journey for those in quarantine?

[POL]

How do you propose to get the people off the aircraft at Wittering? Down the emergency slide?

[slogen51]

Porton Down is just around the corner from Boscombe.

Perhaps they were greeted by some government scientists with rubber gloves on.

And they know a thing or two about containment.

[Arthur Tee]

Wittering has had 747s in the past.
For today it could then be left at the main gate - A1 to Knottingley - M62 Westwards and then onto the Wirral.
An easier/shorter journey for those in quarantine?

And how are you planning to remove the 747 from the grass once it’s failed to cope with a 30-40 degree crosswind component with very strong winds?

Arthur

[Arthur Tee]

Any one know which military bases can handle 747 400s aside from Brize, Fairford, Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Marham and MoD Boscombe Down, does not look like the commercial airfields can afford the disruption

I’ve seen a 747 freighter at Waddington in the past. (Diversion from Mildenhall).

Liverpool?

Is Liverpool military now?

[Vulcan7]

Wamos B 747 just landed at Boscombe Down 11:32

And departed again at around 1400. Looks to have landed in Madrid.

Good to see such a big bird around here.

[SPERX]

Chap in the pub said that they used Boscombe because the chemtrails flights are cancelled for the weekend ....................

[Nighthawke]

Probably been in the pub for a while...!