Is Odiham to close ??

[RichC]

Well with 70 Chinooks in all, i don't expect Odiham can cater for all of them (Even though some will be in theatre or training elsewhere) so i guess there will be 7, 18 and 27 at Odiham and the other (i'm guessing two squadrons) at Benson.

I heard a rumour that the RAF Merlins were going to Yeovilton or Culdrose to replace the Seaking HC4s in the RM support (CHF) role. So if that is true then Benson will have quite a bit of room available.

In any case, ramp space at Benson is extensive, more so than Odiham and Benson can accomodate alot of helicopters.... not sure about Accomodation for the crews/families though?

[HighlandSniper]

I'm with Razor ... ...

Perhaps it's just a case of Odiham being at capacity. As I understand it, the Merlins currently at Benson will probably transfer to the Commando helicopter force based at either Yeovilton or Culdrose, thus freeing up Benson to accommodate two new Chinook squadrons.

N.B. this is purely my personal opinion and not based on any hard evidence.

[ROB MkIX]

I don't think that Odiham will close with that number of Chinooks on strength and I think I heard on our local news that Chinook crew training would be carried out at Benson but no mention of Odiham closing.

[headset 57]

http://www.wokka.freeserve.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafodiham/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFbenson/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GaryS]

BBC news 'interactive' said earlier that 10 of the 22 new chinooks would be based at Benson,and that locals have nothing to fear from increased noise levels....
to go with the 150 noise complaints they have a year!!

[KINROTATE]

So the Chinook fleet get a dedicated training unit. Lets start number crunching - number that squadron! What chance the 72 plate being re-allocated?

[RichC]

Marham, and even dare i say it Yeovilton if it losses all its old Commando Helicopters (to be possible replaced by TDY Merlins operating from a site in the Plymouth dockyard area).

Where on earth did you hear that from?
Where can any helicopter operate from in the dockyard? They have a hard enough time operating from Western Mill HLS in the dockyard let alone anywhere else.
Why operate a load of Medium helicopters in an area which is a restricted zone (the Bond Dauphins have to get permission from FOST Ops just to land there) and within/close to a range which is always 'hot' with RN training? Doesn't make sense one bit. Not only that, it's surrounded by a city of houses, factories, a live arming jetty to its west for ships, ships and masts all over the place around the river Tamar and an airport approach to its North!!

No hangars, no ramp, no anything!!
It would be like Banja Luka in Bosnia! I don't think that would be ideal to operate Helicopters from and theres no reason too either because the CHF only spent about 5% of their flying hours down around that area anyway!

[RichC]

It wouldn't surprise that Culdrose got the Merlins. They already have Merlins there and they have the joint RN/RAF Merlin Maintenance Facility there too.
But as you say, the CHF is HQ at Yeovilton and they have plenty of space for the CHF Merlins.
Culdrose is in a situation where however, it's well out of the way, and well out of the way of where the CHF mostly operates.
You'll probably find that was one of the reasons why they didn't choose St Mawgan for the A400 or JSF too and that too closed.

[KINROTATE]

Of course Culdrose is really handy for Salisbury plain, Colchester etc where there customers training grounds are. The Navy will not get these cabs, they will stay RAF.

[Fighterfoto]

If I were the owner of the land would I really insist on returning them to fields/woods again? The value of the land with their infrastucture are far higher than as agricultural land and the owner would be foolish to insist they were reverted to their previous condition.