UK Confirms 9 Boeing P-8's to be purchased

[Andy_99]

Waddington is the obvious choice.

I get the feeling that the new govt. are thinking more of the longer term where Scotland may not be part of the union.
Why spend money on basing new assets North of the border when before much longer it won't be British soil.

Besides as stated Waddo is the Centre of the country & equidistant ish for all of the areas of ocean we'd be responsible for.

[Contrail1958]

Waddington is the obvious choice.

I get the feeling that the new govt. are thinking more of the longer term where Scotland may not be part of the union.
Why spend money on basing new assets North of the border when before much longer it won't be British soil.

Besides as stated Waddo is the Centre of the country & equidistant ish for all of the areas of ocean we'd be responsible for.

The new govt is the same as the last one, and if we're talking centre of the country that would be with-in the M25.

[ythanpythan]

And here we go again, for those just joining the thread here's a brief overview of the arguments.

Aircraft Type

• 1) We should have the P8

• 2) We should have the P1

• 3) We should have never scrapped the MRA4, I hate the Government etc etc

• 4) Why can't the F35 do it, disgrace, farce, etc

• 5) Someone said Vulcan, I love/hate (delete as appropriate) the Vulcan

Base

• 1) Waddington because (insert iffy reason) but actually because it's closer to me

• 2) Kinloss because (insert iffy reason) but actually because it's closer to me

• 3) St Mawgan because Nimrods used to be there, but actually because I have a holiday cottage there

[onemac]

Why spend money on basing new assets North of the border when before much longer it won't be British soil.

Just to clarify IF (and it's a biggie) Scotland decide to separate from the rest of the country, everywhere south of the border won't be British soil either

Besides as stated Waddo is the Centre of the country & equidistant ish for all of the areas of ocean we'd be responsible for.

Well that's a big 'ISH'!

Skeggy - 43 miles (ish)
Newquay - 339 miles (ish)
Berwick - 219 miles (ish)
Brighton - 212 miles (ish)
Workington - 198 miles (ish)

Ian - thanks for the overview but you forgot the Faslane discussion! I'm sure Waddington is the obvious choice for the subs

Al

[POL]

Just to clarify IF (and it's a biggie) Scotland decide to separate from the rest of the country, everywhere south of the border won't be British soil either

Why, will Britain no longer exist if one of the three territories is no longer part of it?

[flarkey]

Just to clarify IF (and it's a biggie) Scotland decide to separate from the rest of the country, everywhere south of the border won't be British soil either

Why, will Britain no longer exist if one of the three territories is no longer part of it?

I think you mean four territories.

[POL]

Do I? I thought Great Britain was three, United Kingdom was four?

[dinger]

Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Dinger

[POL]

That's the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Surely "British soil" refers to Great Britain, and therefore only three territories?

[Arthur Tee]

Oh Lord! Do we now have to factor-in Ballykelly into the basing options now?

Arthur

[Yorkshire82]

ythanpythan, very good! haha

[Sky Pirate]

I suppose when the Government evennnntually get round to it, the planes will be based either in Scotland, England or possibly Shetland......

[Gary]

Not sure it matters where they are going to based The number that's been touted, a lot of them will probably be deployed or in maintenance a lot of the time

On a related subject many crews did the old Nimrod squadrons have?

[Sky Pirate]

Eight/Nine I think Gary.....Got a couple of crew patches for Nimrod Sqn's one is crew 9 on 206 Sqn.On April 7th, Flt Lt Turnbull and Crew 8 aboard XV258 carried out a six-hour search for Argentine surface vessels and submarines, and also acted as a communications link between submerged RN nuclear submarines and Northwood. http://www.targetlock.org.uk/nimrod/service.html

[Contrail1958]

Waddo would become such a High Value target with all these "Eggs" in one basket I
suppose they would have to move the airshow to somewhere else.
Security would be raised even more .

[dinger]

Airshow, what Airshow??? Doubt it will happen again in my opinion so would not have a bearing on additional assets being based at Waddington.

Dinger

[Sky Pirate]

Not sure it matters where they are going to based The number that's been touted, a lot of them will probably be deployed or in maintenance a lot of the time

On a related subject many crews did the old Nimrod squadrons have?

A friendly ex Crew Chief has informed me the Operational Sqn's had nine crews available and the OCU 4 Gary...cheers Jim(Bluetail)

Hugh.

[Gary]

Thanks Hugh, much appreciated mate

[blackbox]

As a matter of interest hex code AE57B4 is showing on PP over the US. Believed to be P8 168848..... and in the call sign box is "P84UK"!!

[Byronlightning]

If a large number are ordered it would make sense in many respects to reactivity Kinloss the Army could easily be re based easily elseware with minimal effect on their capabilities.

Why do you think they moved soldiers into Kinloss in the first place? They weren't the happiest to go there, but there is nowhere else. It's all part of getting them out of Germany. Waddington makes so much sense, as does the P8.