RAF Wittering info

[Thor]

as far as I recall the E-3s were deemed too large to operate from Wittering.

You're having a giraffe Former home of the V bomber force can't operate the E3, it's accepted VC10s over the years without any problems!! More a case of can't because of maintenance and support issues.........

As I said, as far as I recall that was the result of the site survey. I wasn't involved in that, but was told of the results. It may be that there are restrictions on where an E-3 can be safely parked up now (yes, I know large aircraft have used the station in the past, but we're talking now, not when the last large jet movement was - harriers don't really count as large jets and they were the last regular movements of any size..) - there may be issues over surface condition of the runway & ASPs/dispersals meaning that there are only some areas capable of taking an E-3 now, and it may be those areas which have dimension restrictions on the access to them. And all of the above may have changed since I discussed this a few months back. I'm not looking for a flame-fest here, just reporting back what I was told at the time.

[britaylor]

Also I think is a time opening problem as the lacal Estate owns the base the RAF does not and the runway is notup to standaed as the E3 is an 24hour aircraft not 8 till 5 5 day work Ithought these where going into Coningsby

[cottesmore09]

They are planning for most if not all aircraft to go to Coningsby, they have already had a rehearsal a few months with 1 E-3 doing a night stop.

[Thor]

They are planning for most if not all aircraft to go to Coningsby, they have already had a rehearsal a few months with 1 E-3 doing a night stop.

That's not strictly true, last I heard was that only a couple of E-3s could be accommodated at Coningsby due to ramp space restrictions, but to say that the plans for what the remainder of that fleet would be doing during this time were changeable would be something of an understatement..

The other squadrons will be boltholing to at least one other local base that isn't Coningsby, though again plans may have changed since the slippage of the work start date. I'm deliberately not mentioning specifics here due to the possibility of changes in the plans since I was last updated on what's happening - not because I have an "I know something you don't" mentality, but purely because I don't want to publish what may be either sensitive or inaccurate information.

[baz1]

and scampton is fairly close as well!

[Unknown74]

To be honest with you if your talking Sentry's best place would be either Brize, Mildenhall or Fairford. Maybe Sentinals would be ok for Coningsby. As for the RC-135 then Mildenhall. Not too sure about the Shadows as noone knows much about them.

[Tronk 11]

The Shadows are off to Cranwell, a crew confirmed this at the Waddington Show.

[C24]

FYI

KingAirs have been doing circuits on & off over the last week or so.

[XPLUMBER]

Something much bigger than a king air flying around at the moment!

[Tronk 11]

Theres c/s Airbus taxing for take off & circuits, 26 POB. Happy, happy happy.

[Tronk 11]

He's going to come back & refuel & reconfigure the plane. So much for not being able to take big jets!

[XPLUMBER]

If the weather holds over the weekend the A400 should be quite active!

[jamesg23]

Seen some good shots this morning with a dummy tied up near the rear side door.

[XPLUMBER]

Great fun watching the filming yesterday.

[jamesg23]

Not the sort of thing you expect at wittering anymore.

[BOLLO]

The Sunday Sun as pics of ole Tom Cruise hanging off the side of the A 400M in the air,fair play to him for doing his own stunts again.

[XPLUMBER]

We went and watched him do the run on Friday afternoon, I guess if it's a good one he wont need to do it again.

[cottesmore09]

Local report of it all
http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/l ... -1-6394157

[cottesmore09]

Which Units are currently fully operational at Wittering???????

Cambridge UAS ?????
UAS London
East Midlands UAS
115 (R) Sqn ex Cranwell ??????

None I believe?
The airfield is still undergoing a revamp ready for the units to arrive.

[XPLUMBER]

Ladies and Gentlemen the A400M has just left Wittering!