Lossiemouth 2018 Visitor Statistics

[vulcanxl425]

Have again kept hopefully a fairly accurate log of this years visitors and can show you the statistics. Military visitors this year totalled 323 (up from 318 in 2017) with civil visitors excluding the regular Jetstreams amounting to 47 (50 in 2017).
Top military aircraft types were as follows:-
1) P-8 Poseidon (no surprise there) 14 different frames and many visits
Joint second C-130's and Hawks followed by the US Navy C-40's.
58 different aircraft types noted. Of note the very small amount of Tucanos,no doubt ahead of going out of service soon. No visit from a Voyager at all as far as i am aware.
The busiest months were :-
November 47 visitors
May 45
December 42
The MPA's visits continue to increase totalling this year (all types) 60 compared to 51 in 2017

Highlights in my opinion were
late May 2 x Mirage 2000D
early May 2 x RAAF C-17's uplifting the 2 x MH60 of Australian Navy
September and early October the Italian AF ATR P-72
late September couple of visits from USN Greyhound
Two Heavies October the civil MD-11F and December the USAF KC-10A
And to complete the return visit Nov/Dec of the Swiss Hornets.

The new three-bay Poseidon hangar for both deep repair and short term maintenance is well underway. In addition the facility will include a "birdbath" for removal of salt on any returning planes. The hangar and facilities are planned to be ready in late summer 2020. The RAF and Norwegian AF are examining the possibility of Norwegian aircraft using Lossie for deep servicing and also training of their crews on the simulators here when ready. Still much remains to be done to main runway aprons and taxiway and with other ancillary work will lead to closure of airfield for a while.

Just remains to thank all the "locals" for their help and information and to wish all on Fighter Control a Happy New Year.

[Freeman Lowell]

Very interesting post Al. Thanks.
I'm a little surprised by the birdbath as I keep reading that the P-8s only operate at high altitude. RIP the Nimrod.
Freeman

[chrisov]

Great Summary Al, thanks.
Happy 2019

[POL]

Very interesting post Al. Thanks.
I'm a little surprised by the birdbath as I keep reading that the P-8s only operate at high altitude. RIP the Nimrod.
Freeman

Really?

[Freeman Lowell]

Really?

- my favourite phrase of 2018 Chris .
Yes, that's what I recall reading. Google has been my friend today though .
Thanks,
Freeman

[Morseman]

Great report, many thanks.
Mick

[Budgie516]

Great Report thanks for taking the time out to do it much appreciated. Oh and Happy New Year all the best for 2019

Garry

[MRTT]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. Certainly been a busy year!

Happy New Year, all the best for 2019!

[Bluetail]

Great report Al, Happy New Year and I,ll see you on the fence soon.

[Punkrunner62]

Thanks for all your reports throughout the last year and a Happy 2019.
Cheers.

[retro11]

Interesting summary on 2018 at Lossie Al , see you next time i am up and all the best for 2019

[jacissmiling]

Very interesting summary Al!
Just wish I had caught those mirages in May!

[StevenNFFC]

As always - a very interesting thread. I'm interested in the C-40's - do these provide crew ferry for the various P-8's that have been in operation from Lossie or are they something else?

[vulcanxl425]

The C-40s seem to be a bit of both.Quite often cargo pallets are offloaded,not so many perhaps being loaded.

[Geoff]

Has anyone got any pics to post of said new fences at Lossie please

[retro11]

The old (black) and new at the 23 end
RAF LOSSIEMOUTH by RETRO 11, on Flickr

[Geoff]

thanks for the pics retro11 much appreciated, so steps needed, is the wooded fence the other end of the runway stiil the same height ?

[scimitar]

thanks for the pics retro11 much appreciated, so steps needed, is the wooded fence the other end of the runway stiil the same height ?

Steps or ladders not required at either 05 or 23 ends however i don’t know how tall you are

[scimitar]

Taken over the fence at 23, no ladders or steps.
IMG_8884 by andrew cowan, on Flickr

[Geoff]

Thanks scimitar, 5.8 mate lol ,so I wont bring steps with me , cheers