FighterControl

Heard a rumour that Mildenhall no longer closing ??? Any credibility to this ?

I think it's probably a rumour!!

Laced with wishful thinking.

I wonder what will happen to aircraft coming over from the States and into the base at Ramstein. Presumably some will not be able to make it direct, so where will they stop for fuel? Prestwick? Shannon?

A lot has happened in the 18 months since the closure was announced i.e. Russian build up near the Baltic states and Ukraine. Who knows what the next President will do about Putin's chess game.... Pretty certain that the Republican nominee will stop all US Defense saving plans (but I'll be digging a bunker if that happens!!)

Until they say "Mildenhall tower is now closed" just keep going and laugh at the all the fence line rumors and enjoy when ya go down.

Paul said it all

Keep the faith

Paddyboy

I was talking to someone with connections. Apparently closure is no longer certain. The relocation is currently $151 million over budget, there are no shelters for the Ospreys, and flying in Germany is restricted to so many hours and so many days in the week. Apparently it varies each day, so quite how one plans sorties is a mystery. Keep your ears open folks.

Speaking with 2 of the MOD Policeman we know they have said the closure has been put back till 2027,which if is true that will do me fine .

BOLLO wrote:Speaking with 2 of the MOD Policeman we know they have said the closure has been put back till 2027,which if is true that will do me fine .

Hope so

I have to be a bit careful of what I say about this subject because I have worked for Mildenhall council for the last 16 years, but...
I really don't know if it's closing or not.
There has been a fortune spent by the council regarding WHEN it closes (not IF) so, the local council thinks it will close.
All of the outside contractors that work on base (that I've spoke to) have been given dates that they will not be needed anymore, so they think it is going to close.
But EVERY USAF person I've spoke to have said the same thing, "i don't think it's closing"
I was working with 6 USAF guys last Saturday (they volunteered to help for an event in Mildenhall town) and they laughed when I said about the base closing....
I guess we will know...one day.
Regards Dave.

We can but hope that it's retained.

Agree with lots of other people lot's has changed in the world since the original announcement, Uncle Sam may well want to look at retaining a bit more tarmac in Europe than it originally had planned.

As you say, Andy, much has changed. It may be that Uncle Sam wants to keep extra tarmac in England. Better the devil.

bentwaters81tfw wrote:As you say, Andy, much has changed. It may be that Uncle Sam wants to keep extra tarmac in England. Better the devil.

Exactly once the Land is sold off it's lost for good. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to create something new.

Q for the floor - When was the last time a Military Airfield was built/commissioned etc.

Great question. Surely none post WW2? (Mount Pleasant)...
Other than London City I cannot think of any civil (with tarmac) either....

New build??

RAF Waddington could be considered a "New build". RAF Wittering certainly has the space for a very large upgrade. I am pretty certain that other existing aerodrome are capable of increased capacity if the money is available.

Amp wrote:Other than London City I cannot think of any civil (with tarmac) either....

Sheffield ... which sadly closed after a few years.

I have a good friend that works for one of the squadrons based at RAF Mildenhall and they have said it will not be closing for at least another 8 years (if at all), how kosher that is I know not!!

Some news. (maybe not new news though?)
Forest Heath Council are having two "drop in" meetings for local people to have their say as to what will happen to RAF Mildenhall when it closes.
The first is 29th September at the council office.
"the MOD owns the land and has said part of it will be used for housing, the rest of the site is under review to see if it is needed for military use"
(that will be completed by 2018)
Dave.
PS. The email I took that from also states that the base WILL close in 2023.??
A bit of a contradiction.

Remember that the latest round of base closures still does not bring the MOD to their £1b SDSR15 figure. Bet there will be at least another announcement before too long; so time will tell.