Marshalls move

[panta615]

Bassingbourn is still active. Talk of it becoming a helicopter airfield but who or what’s going to be there is another question.

Having spoken to someone who works at Marshalls there is talk of Mildenhall but no one knows 100% of what’s going to happen.

Dave

[Vulcanone]

Interesting as most of the taxiways and runways have long gone

[Agent K]

Bassingbourn is still active. Talk of it becoming a helicopter airfield but who or what’s going to be there is another question.

Having spoken to someone who works at Marshalls there is talk of Mildenhall but no one knows 100% of what’s going to happen.

Dave

Bassingbourn isn't active.... as an airfield...…. and I'm not sure where this helicopter rumour came from (somebody on here a while back claimed Mildenhall would be for helicopters too!). Given Dishforth closed recently, things are centralising at VL, Odiham, Benson, Wattisham and Middle Wallop there really is no need for any additional airfields (indeed Wattisham has been rumoured for closure too with Apaches centralised at Middle Wallop).

[9arrow]

...or Middle Wallop closing and Apaches centralised at Wattisham. Wattisham to win because of larger housing with prospects for more.

Dave

[Arthur Tee]

...or Middle Wallop closing and Apaches centralised at Wattisham. Wattisham to win because of larger housing with prospects for more.

Dave

So long as you move Salisbury Plain too!

[Bob DeBilda]

Quote:"Also, I'd have thought any move to Wyton would only be short term as its well known Wyton itself is under threat from housing development. Once they've finished destroying Alconbury, Oakington, Bassingbourn, etc then Wyton is an obvious target for yet another new town".
Top
But haven't they not long built a large new facility at Wyton?( Not that that would preclude it being bulldozed.)
Also I read recently that Marshalls have recently constructed a noise-reducing structure (capable of housing a 747) to work on aircraft engines without disturbing the locals.

[andrewn]

Quote:"Also, I'd have thought any move to Wyton would only be short term as its well known Wyton itself is under threat from housing development. Once they've finished destroying Alconbury, Oakington, Bassingbourn, etc then Wyton is an obvious target for yet another new town".
Top
But haven't they not long built a large new facility at Wyton?( Not that that would preclude it being bulldozed.)
Also I read recently that Marshalls have recently constructed a noise-reducing structure (capable of housing a 747) to work on aircraft engines without disturbing the locals.

Wyton 'Garden Village', no less...
http://www.wytonairfield.co.uk/

[tonkatom]

...or Middle Wallop closing and Apaches centralised at Wattisham. Wattisham to win because of larger housing with prospects for more.

Dave

I heard rumours last year that middle wallop would close and all move to Boscombe down! A big airfield that isn’t been used to its full capacity.
Salisbury plain is vital to the apache force so I would favour wattisham to go if any.

[arch]

I heard that when the Red arrows leave scampton it will become a massive helicopter base .
and the reds will move to heathrow as there is not much activity there .
and another rumor marshalls will move to an underground base underneath mount Everest.
don't know how true any of these are but thought you might not be interested as I am not.

[Pen Pusher]

Wyton 'Garden Village', no less...
http://www.wytonairfield.co.uk/

The Garden Village plan in the link above was turned down in 2017 because the roads around here wouldn't be able to handle the extra traffic created. Nothing has changed since then. Try getting through St Ives during rush hour with vehicles trying to get on and off the A14.

The developer of the Garden Village had apparently try to solve the traffic problem by providing 'Elderly accommodation' because retired people don't drive cars.

Brian

[andrewn]

Wyton 'Garden Village', no less...
http://www.wytonairfield.co.uk/

The Garden Village plan in the link above was turned down in 2017 because the roads around here wouldn't be able to handle the extra traffic created. Nothing has changed since then. Try getting through St Ives during rush hour with vehicles trying to get on and off the A14.

The developer of the Garden Village had apparently try to solve the traffic problem by providing 'Elderly accommodation' because retired people don't drive cars.

Brian

If only it were that simple Brian. The problem with developers is they dont really understand the word "No"

https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/develo ... -1-6329009

[the concerned]

What would it take to turn the old rae thurleigh in Bedford back to a base. Surely this would be big enough for Marshall's operations. I know at the moment it is used for car racing .

[baz1]

personally i'm not too concerned were they go so the best thing I can do is leave it up to Marshalls to decide were they want to go.

[wezgulf3]

What would it take to turn the old rae thurleigh in Bedford back to a base. Surely this would be big enough for Marshall's operations. I know at the moment it is used for car racing .

Thurleigh does actually get BizJet traffic for certain race days.

Wes...

[Agent K]

What would it take to turn the old rae thurleigh in Bedford back to a base. Surely this would be big enough for Marshall's operations. I know at the moment it is used for car racing .

Thurleigh does actually get BizJet traffic for certain race days.

Wes...

Really? And it doesn’t hold races does it? Thought it was just Palmer related track days?

[Vulcanone]

Aside from the hangar areas seemingly owned by other businesses, the runway is half covered in cars or was going by the last Google Maps pic

[mustang5861]

The runway at Thurleigh was cut through by part of the PalmerSport racetrack back in the 1990s, with the local council's blessing as it stopped any further talk of the airfield being used as an air-freight terminal. Would Marshalls be willing to do some sort of deal to 'relocate' the corporate race-days operation and pay for the repair/resurfacing of the runway? That said, the runway (at full length) could easily take 747s and any other 'heavies', which might be an attraction - assuming there are 747s still in service in the 2030s and beyond.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

I don't think the runway was cut through. The taxiways adjoining it were, or had embankments built over them. Most of the main runway and south side of the site is covered in cars.

The modern "landing strip" is at the eastern end of the runway.

[Pen Pusher]

http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviat ... leigh.html

Brian

[Phoon]

...or Middle Wallop closing and Apaches centralised at Wattisham. Wattisham to win because of larger housing with prospects for more.

Dave

I heard rumours last year that middle wallop would close and all move to Boscombe down! A big airfield that isn’t been used to its full capacity.
Salisbury plain is vital to the apache force so I would favour wattisham to go if any.

It's certainly one doing the rounds. Currently the Airforce, Navy and Army have two MOBs each for rotary operations which will not continue in this current climate of reducing real estate. Middle Wallop and Wattisham both to close with all Army assets concentrated at Boscombe, Benson long been rumored to close and all RAF helicopters centralized at Odiham, Boscombe or Yeovilton. Culdrose must all be in the mix for any changes.