Future of Leuchars - not good!

[ArabJazzie]

Hi all,
Another round of what the future holds, or rather not, for Leuchars. Its seems from reading this that my fears that, due to current and future Army cuts, there would be no Army units at Leuchars seems to be holding a bit of weight now!

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Fife/a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ility.html

As the article mentions, the rumour mill is very much alive and well with some crackers coming out and some that could happen! 3 biggies, No Army no Air Force, 3 Squadrons staying or moving with Q staying at Leuchars!
Arabest,
Geoff.

[trembler1]

Political hot potato, Lossie wont close due to the impact on the local economy (especially after Kinloss) whereas Leuchars is close to Dundee and more job opportunities for the folks at Leuchars to find employment. As much as i would love to see Leuchars stay as an active RAF base, i just cant see it.

Bryan

[Heidfirst]

(especially after Kinloss)

Kinloss at least got an Engineer Regiment as a replacement unit.

[Unknown74]

Just keep the RAF at Leuchars, Typhoon for Leuchars, F-35 for Lossiemouth after the Tornado GR.4 has retired, surely there are a couple of bases they don't need in England.

[SteveS]

Yes there were. The RAF withdrew. Three bases. In the last two years. But I'm sure a couple more could go, just to keep you happy.

[MacksAviation]

Just keep the RAF at Leuchars, Typhoon for Leuchars, F-35 for Lossiemouth after the Tornado GR.4 has retired, surely there are a couple of bases they don't need in England.

When you get independance you will have all the bases you want but hopefully devoid of any HM Forces aircraft we will just reopen the closed bases down south and leave you too it

[rafphoto2]

When this closure was first announced, I remember that one suggestion was that Leuchars was ideally placed as a regional airport - The facilities are vastly superior to Dundee, and it would be a boon to the golfers who flock to St. Andrews - all the time - not just for the Open championship.
It still makes sense to me.

[BOLLO]

Just keep the RAF at Leuchars, Typhoon for Leuchars, F-35 for Lossiemouth after the Tornado GR.4 has retired, surely there are a couple of bases they don't need in England.

When you get independance you will have all the bases you want but hopefully devoid of any HM Forces aircraft we will just reopen the closed bases down south and leave you too it

They'd get the Yanks in Dave with all that Whiskey and Golf up there the crafty Jocks.

[lmgaylard]

Just keep the RAF at Leuchars, Typhoon for Leuchars, F-35 for Lossiemouth after the Tornado GR.4 has retired, surely there are a couple of bases they don't need in England.

When you get independance you will have all the bases you want but hopefully devoid of any HM Forces aircraft we will just reopen the closed bases down south and leave you too it

F-35 probably wont be going to lossie anyway if we have the 'c' variant..........well the Navy's will go to Yeovilton.......lossie might get all the f-35's if we change back to the 'b' because of the noise abaitment(?) rule.

[balders]

As has been said there have been plenty of base closures in the rest of the UK and bearing in mind the percentage of population in scotland is 1/12 of the rest of the UK I would say the balance is right. At least the military have kept a presence at some bases in Scotland. South of the border they have become prisons. Aside from that why would the goverment change any decision with the threat of independence coming in 2014. The SNP have openly said that if there is independence then they will kick any nucleur element of the RN out of Faslane. They can't have it both ways.

[clifftopred]

Hands up all those that are shocked....

Lossie is the next to become non RAF, they' (the lords in their ivory towers) are doing it by stealth, slowly but surely moving what they have to south.

Whats the betting on the good old Fleet Air Arm getting the JSF at Yeovilton, if we ever get it of course.

Remember you heard it here first!

[ArabJazzie]

When this closure was first announced, I remember that one suggestion was that Leuchars was ideally placed as a regional airport - The facilities are vastly superior to Dundee, and it would be a boon to the golfers who flock to St. Andrews - all the time - not just for the Open championship.
It still makes sense to me.

Vastly superior? Exactly where? Only things where Leuchars is superior is navaids, runway and parking space! I have to say that the amount of golf groups these days is at an all time low for Leuchars and Dundee. And anyway, what will change their minds when most of the golfers go into Edinburgh because they want some capital shopping!
Arabest,
Geoff.

[Jabba]

Lossie is the next to become non RAF, they' (the lords in their ivory towers) are doing it by stealth, slowly but surely moving what they have to south.

Rumour has it that 12 Sqn are about to be chopped. With 617 sqn in Afghanistan Lossie could be rather quiet this summer!

[jakdaw]

I thought 12 squadron were packing up after we pull out of Afghanistan (2013/14).