Red Arrows RAF Scampton air base to be sold off

[PeteHemsley]

BBMF will go eventually to Duxford I am sure, the Lancaster has a hangar there and the engineering experts are now in private co's at Duxford. Reds could go any where but Valley seems the most likely.

The Lancaster does not have a hangar at Duxford. It used the ARC hangar for its major.

[Bluerigger1]

Leeming would be the logical choice.
1.The Tornado parts reclamation programme will be drawing to a close which frees up the hangar space requirements.
2.There is enough accommodation space for the RAF personnel to be housed.
3 100 Sqn don't tend to do much circuit bashing so the airspace is free relative to most other RAF Stations.
4 Joint location with another Hawk unit would help things such as BAe and Rolls Royce support.
5. A move to Wittering would mean moving out the flying units presently based there.
6. Leeming is chronically underused with only 100 Sqn and various joint exercises using the airfield.

The only down side is the lack of a simulator which is at Valley. I can't see Anglesey as a home for the Reds due to the lack of Hangar space, Accomodation and the airspace needs of 4 Sqn and the Texans (when they come out of hibernation).

But when has logic been the driver for MoD ideas ?

[RubyRoo]

It's sad to see another 2 bases go, but there's no real need of them any longer with such a diminished air force.

I agree that Leeming seems to be an ideal place for the Reds to move to. Where else could they realistically go? Unless we've finally found a tenant to keep Mildenhall going

[CGM]

Obviously never going to happen but what about Leuchars? Far less bodies there now the Army moved in than there was RAF bodies so there might be enough accomodation spare? You're not causing any disruption to other flying squadrons, far enough away from Edinburghs flightpaths. If the MOD want to save money, this place is mega underused.

[TankBuster]

Could the Reds go to Wattisham?..

TankBuster

[Fighterfoto]

Leeming would be the logical choice.
1.The Tornado parts reclamation programme will be drawing to a close which frees up the hangar space requirements.
2.There is enough accommodation space for the RAF personnel to be housed.
3 100 Sqn don't tend to do much circuit bashing so the airspace is free relative to most other RAF Stations.
4 Joint location with another Hawk unit would help things such as BAe and Rolls Royce support.
5. A move to Wittering would mean moving out the flying units presently based there.
6. Leeming is chronically underused with only 100 Sqn and various joint exercises using the airfield.

The only down side is the lack of a simulator which is at Valley. I can't see Anglesey as a home for the Reds due to the lack of Hangar space, Accomodation and the airspace needs of 4 Sqn and the Texans (when they come out of hibernation).

But when has logic been the driver for MoD ideas ?

In reply:

2. Supposition on your part, there are a number of other units based at Leeming who use the existing housing.
3. Permission is required from the CAA to use airspace for training and this is more of a factor than how busy the circuit is.
4. Supposition again.
5. Not necessarily.
6. Sure there is more capacity to use the airfield but the station itself is very busy.

[Pune]

What about RAF Fairford, just a thought?

[f-4]

What about RAF Fairford, just a thought?

Well, they started there, so appropriate to finish there too!

[Agent K]

BBMF will go eventually to Duxford I am sure, the Lancaster has a hangar there and the engineering experts are now in private co's at Duxford. Reds could go any where but Valley seems the most likely.

1. It's a hangAr
2. ARCo carried out a major servicing under contract in their hangar, owned by them.
3. Unless the Lancaster and BBMF fleet is transferred to the civilian register that move isn't going to happen.
4. Logistics, as they are crewed by local pilots (Waddington/Coningsby) then that one wouldn't work either.

Otherwise yes that must be the answer.........

[Spitfire88]

I was waiting to see if anybody else suggested Fairford, it will be active by 2021, with lots of potential space and room for the USAF assets and ( looking more likely) 51sq also, the airspace would be avaliable almost the whole time and would not affect movements in and out of Brize, there are also no restrictions in the potential practice area with Fairford surrounded by lots of open countryside and a ceiling of 12000ft avalible, of course it's not the obvious choice but it seems to be one of the best.

[Agent K]

I was waiting to see if anybody else suggested Fairford, it will be active by 2021, with lots of potential space and room for the USAF assets and ( looking more likely) 51sq also, the airspace would be avaliable almost the whole time and would not affect movements in and out of Brize, there are also no restrictions in the potential practice area with Fairford surrounded by lots of open countryside and a ceiling of 12000ft avalible, of it's not the obvious choice but it seems to be one of the best.

But then you're defeating the object of the exercise which is RAF base closure with having to open to all intents and purposes a new RAF base with the infrastructure and support that's required.

[Spitfire88]

I was waiting to see if anybody else suggested Fairford, it will be active by 2021, with lots of potential space and room for the USAF assets and ( looking more likely) 51sq also, the airspace would be avaliable almost the whole time and would not affect movements in and out of Brize, there are also no restrictions in the potential practice area with Fairford surrounded by lots of open countryside and a ceiling of 12000ft avalible, of it's not the obvious choice but it seems to be one of the best.

But then you're defeating the object of the exercise which is RAF base closure with having to open to all intents and purposes a new RAF base with the infrastructure and support that's required.

Fairford will be open and fully active, the infrastructure is funded by NATO and all the work to bring it back up to speed will be completed by 2021, it will be staffed by the USAF, it's seems likely that the RAF Rivet joints will also be here so moving 12 hawks and 150 personal will be no problem.

[Andy_99]

Much as I'd like to say Wittering I doubt it due to the proximity to the A1, actually almost the same situation as Leeming.


What other Airfields are there in the MOD inventory that have capacity & don't need money spending on them.

[paddyboy]

John: you are an incorrigible old frat

I will be having words with T next time we meet

[graham luxton]

I was waiting to see if anybody else suggested Fairford, it will be active by 2021, with lots of potential space and room for the USAF assets and ( looking more likely) 51sq also, the airspace would be avaliable almost the whole time and would not affect movements in and out of Brize, there are also no restrictions in the potential practice area with Fairford surrounded by lots of open countryside and a ceiling of 12000ft avalible, of it's not the obvious choice but it seems to be one of the best.

But then you're defeating the object of the exercise which is RAF base closure with having to open to all intents and purposes a new RAF base with the infrastructure and support that's required.

Fairford will be open and fully active, the infrastructure is funded by NATO and all the work to bring it back up to speed will be completed by 2021, it will be staffed by the USAF, it's seems likely that the RAF Rivet joints will also be here so moving 12 hawks and 150 personal will be no problem.

With regard to airspace, it would impact on Brize Norton inbounds if Runway 07 was in use because the instrument approach would be within the rehearsal area. Also, Fairford is surrounded by busy Class G (see and be seen)airspace used mainly by the General Aviation community with aircraft transiting the area in all directions. Imposing airspace restrictions in such a busy area, so the Red Arrows could rehearse would, I suggest, not sufficiently protect them, considering the chances that the airspace might be infringed. Far safer for these rehearsals to be conducted from a base in a quieter area.

[tm74sqn]

Sounds as if re-activating RAF Upper Heyford or re-building RAF Greenham Common for Red Arrows use are both no-nos!

[Bluerigger1]

Leeming would be the logical choice.
1.The Tornado parts reclamation programme will be drawing to a close which frees up the hangar space requirements.
2.There is enough accommodation space for the RAF personnel to be housed.
3 100 Sqn don't tend to do much circuit bashing so the airspace is free relative to most other RAF Stations.
4 Joint location with another Hawk unit would help things such as BAe and Rolls Royce support.
5. A move to Wittering would mean moving out the flying units presently based there.
6. Leeming is chronically underused with only 100 Sqn and various joint exercises using the airfield.

The only down side is the lack of a simulator which is at Valley. I can't see Anglesey as a home for the Reds due to the lack of Hangar space, Accomodation and the airspace needs of 4 Sqn and the Texans (when they come out of hibernation).

But when has logic been the driver for MoD ideas ?

In reply:

2. Supposition on your part, there are a number of other units based at Leeming who use the existing housing.
3. Permission is required from the CAA to use airspace for training and this is more of a factor than how busy the circuit is.
4. Supposition again.
5. Not necessarily.
6. Sure there is more capacity to use the airfield but the station itself is very busy.

2. I know there are a number of other units at Leeming apart from 100 Sqn whose groundcrew are civilian and live off base. I've worked at Leeming and there is sufficient time to upgrade the existing accommodation to cater for a relatively small number of service personnel the Reds employ. Nobody said this would be a no cost exercise. If some ground based sections have to move out so be it.
3. Airspace regulations will have to be addressed wherever the Reds move to due to the large block of sky they occupy
4. How can benefits of the co-location of SME partners be supposition ?
5. Tutors and Hawks operating on the same airfield ? Not going to work, the Cranwell years proved that.
6. Respect to the Units based at Leeming but do they really need to be on an under utilized active airfield ?

[SCARECROW]

Why would other units have to move out if reds moved to Wittering ? When they were due to go to Marham no one else was going to move out ! They wanted to own the place until 39 Sqn told them to shove it !!

[Vulcanone]

The last time they were going to be re-housed it was down the A15 at Waddington. I don't think the ISTAR fraternity were too happy

[deerhunter]

I hear (dont know if its true) but our army are to be given pointed sticks and learn how to shout BOO loudly. The Grob is to be our front line aircraft at Barton. The Navy are having heavily armed pedalos.