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Two more US F-35 Sqns to the Lakenheath, UK

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tm74sqn
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by tm74sqn » Fri Jul 01, 2022 11:36 am

Surely Little Snoring airfield in Norfolk must be a good choice - not far from two local F-35 bases . . . .

Enobob
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Enobob » Fri Jul 01, 2022 2:36 pm

Al dunn wrote:
Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:01 pm
Snoop55 wrote:
Wed Jun 29, 2022 12:37 pm
hvaneupen wrote:
Wed Jun 29, 2022 11:52 am
Or swapping (or relocating to another European base) the F15E's at Lakenheath with more F35's...
I'd relocate the F15E's to make space at LN for the F35's.

Possible locations for F15's I guess would be Mildenhall, Fairford or maybe Honington (had F15's there before and down the road).
RAF Honingtons runway has been half dug up
No it hasn't. It is intact as is the entire airfield including the two HAS complexes. What HAS been built on is the aircraft dispersal in front of the C Type hangars. But it is not an operational airfield and is a very full and busy station. No F-35 squadrons coming here.

NorvilleRogers
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by NorvilleRogers » Fri Jul 01, 2022 2:55 pm

Enobob wrote:
Fri Jul 01, 2022 2:36 pm
Al dunn wrote:
Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:01 pm
Snoop55 wrote:
Wed Jun 29, 2022 12:37 pm


I'd relocate the F15E's to make space at LN for the F35's.

Possible locations for F15's I guess would be Mildenhall, Fairford or maybe Honington (had F15's there before and down the road).
RAF Honingtons runway has been half dug up
No it hasn't. It is intact as is the entire airfield including the two HAS complexes. What HAS been built on is the aircraft dispersal in front of the C Type hangars. But it is not an operational airfield and is a very full and busy station. No F-35 squadrons coming here.
All the runway lights and NAV aids (ILS etc) have been removed, making the runway out of service though.

Snoop 95
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Snoop 95 » Sat Jul 02, 2022 9:36 am

Article from the local paper here quotes the DoD as saying the two squadron are forward-locating, so not based at Lakenheath permanently. Logical conclusion is that they will be additional to the based squadrons.
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/two-f35-squ ... th-9115212

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XWP29
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by XWP29 » Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:22 am

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stori ... of-tomorr/

Press release on the 30th by US DD. Says more F-35’s in the U.K. which is true. Again no official confirmation of anything else.
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blackhandgang17
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by blackhandgang17 » Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:11 pm

Can I throw Leuchars into the mix,equipped with 3rd Gen Has’s Airfield is still operational.Nothing says the deployment has to be in East Anglian or even England as the statement mentions UK.Might be a outside shot but it’s easier to relocate a army Engineer regiment than rebuild the likes of Alconbury,Bentwaters etc.
Leering is also a possibility for the same reasons less the army unit.

ArabJazzie
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by ArabJazzie » Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:26 pm

blackhandgang17 wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:11 pm
Can I throw Leuchars into the mix,equipped with 3rd Gen Has’s Airfield is still operational.Nothing says the deployment has to be in East Anglian or even England as the statement mentions UK.Might be a outside shot but it’s easier to relocate a army Engineer regiment than rebuild the likes of Alconbury,Bentwaters etc.
Leering is also a possibility for the same reasons less the army unit.
No fuel infrastructure.

Vulcanone
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Vulcanone » Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:32 pm

What Army unit at where? I assume you are referring to Leeming? Which isn't Army it's still RAF. Even if the only unit with jets is a joint Qatari Hawk unit. And the Draken L159s and Top Aces Alpha Jets

stuie492
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by stuie492 » Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:45 pm

I'm going for RAF LAKENHEATH.....I reckon they will use the old 495th hangars on the North Side 😊

blackhandgang17
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by blackhandgang17 » Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:13 pm

Vulcanone wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:32 pm
What Army unit at where? I assume you are referring to Leeming? Which isn't Army it's still RAF. Even if the only unit with jets is a joint Qatari Hawk unit. And the Draken L159s and Top Aces Alpha Jets
Leuchars is home to a army engineer unit
Would say the fuel situation is cheaper to fix than having to lay new runways etc.
Still got access from the east coast main line for fuel trains to access as that’s what Prestwick does and I dare say the Ryanair 737’s and the cargo 747’s And 777’s will use more fuel than a F-35 squadron

ArabJazzie
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by ArabJazzie » Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:18 pm

Vulcanone wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:32 pm
What Army unit at where? I assume you are referring to Leeming? Which isn't Army it's still RAF. Even if the only unit with jets is a joint Qatari Hawk unit. And the Draken L159s and Top Aces Alpha Jets
I take it you are replying to the person who started speaking of Leuchars which is "full" of Army personnel, then finished about Leeming which has little or no Army personnel.

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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Red-Eye-Knight » Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:29 pm

ArabJazzie wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:18 pm
Vulcanone wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:32 pm
What Army unit at where? I assume you are referring to Leeming? Which isn't Army it's still RAF. Even if the only unit with jets is a joint Qatari Hawk unit. And the Draken L159s and Top Aces Alpha Jets
I take it you are replying to the person who started speaking of Leuchars which is "full" of Army personnel, then finished about Leeming which has little or no Army personnel.
Yep been nearly 10 years since the Army took over Leuchars Airbase for it then to be renamed Leuchars Station.

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Mike
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Mike » Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:42 pm

The Army took over Leuchars in 2015, which is 7 years ago.

Maybe the Staff should lock this topic until confirmation of exactly what is happening is officially published.
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ArabJazzie
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by ArabJazzie » Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:47 pm

blackhandgang17 wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:13 pm
Leuchars is home to a army engineer unit
Would say the fuel situation is cheaper to fix than having to lay new runways etc.
Still got access from the east coast main line for fuel trains to access as that’s what Prestwick does and I dare say the Ryanair 737’s and the cargo 747’s And 777’s will use more fuel than a F-35 squadron
Sure there was discussion about the railways/Union of South Africa/Leuchars AS a while ago on here and as i take a fair interest in the industrial past of Dundee, this obviously includes the local railways which extends into Angus, Perthshire and Fife.

Although im interested to see what happens over the next 2 weeks, Leuchars only has fuel facilities provided by one RAF Fueller Vehicle not for visitors(limited PPR), and one private Fueller Vehicle if that is still in use. Linksfield has no storage tanks in place, and i believe that the last storage tank on the field was demolished very soon after the Typhoon departure. There was a tender out to provide fuel, but i dont think anyone has answered that call as yet.

The railway head spur at Linksfield is still connected to the mainline, but there does not appear to be any pipework in place to offload. At Leuchars station, the spur to the base is no longer connected to the base, either directly from the mainline or into the base with quite a bit of the old track beds lifted and built on within.

So sadly, unless they bring in a few bladder tanks to work from, something i cant see the Americans being happy with anyway, there is next to no chance of any meaningful deployments of anything any time soon.

I could set up a hotpit for them at Dundee if they wished! :P :clap: :halo:

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Blackcat1
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Blackcat1 » Sat Jul 02, 2022 5:01 pm

Who cares . It's only more Dave's 😂
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Red-Eye-Knight
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Red-Eye-Knight » Sat Jul 02, 2022 5:26 pm

Mike wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:42 pm
The Army took over Leuchars in 2015, which is 7 years ago.

Maybe the Staff should lock this topic until confirmation of exactly what is happening is officially published.
I never said 7 years ago I said NEARLY 10 which 7 is close to or am I just being stupid? Operative word incase u missed it was NEARLY ;) :P

But yes you are correct 7 Is the exact number of years.

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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by balamorybuzzed » Sat Jul 02, 2022 5:51 pm

ArabJazzie wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:47 pm
blackhandgang17 wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 4:13 pm
Leuchars is home to a army engineer unit
Would say the fuel situation is cheaper to fix than having to lay new runways etc.
Still got access from the east coast main line for fuel trains to access as that’s what Prestwick does and I dare say the Ryanair 737’s and the cargo 747’s And 777’s will use more fuel than a F-35 squadron
Sure there was discussion about the railways/Union of South Africa/Leuchars AS a while ago on here and as i take a fair interest in the industrial past of Dundee, this obviously includes the local railways which extends into Angus, Perthshire and Fife.

Although im interested to see what happens over the next 2 weeks, Leuchars only has fuel facilities provided by one RAF Fueller Vehicle not for visitors(limited PPR), and one private Fueller Vehicle if that is still in use. Linksfield has no storage tanks in place, and i believe that the last storage tank on the field was demolished very soon after the Typhoon departure. There was a tender out to provide fuel, but i dont think anyone has answered that call as yet.

The railway head spur at Linksfield is still connected to the mainline, but there does not appear to be any pipework in place to offload. At Leuchars station, the spur to the base is no longer connected to the base, either directly from the mainline or into the base with quite a bit of the old track beds lifted and built on within.

So sadly, unless they bring in a few bladder tanks to work from, something i cant see the Americans being happy with anyway, there is next to no chance of any meaningful deployments of anything any time soon.

I could set up a hotpit for them at Dundee if they wished! :P :clap: :halo:
If Leuchars is catering for circa 40 private jets for the Open , where is the fuel coming from?

PS Apologies for the thread drift....

Stewyb1
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Stewyb1 » Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:52 pm

All talk of f35’s being based at any airbase other than The Heath, the hall or FFD is utterly ridiculous. These are fully operational USAF airfields and will be utilised accordingly for any future deployments or TDY, end of!

mustang5861
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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by mustang5861 » Sun Jul 03, 2022 2:11 am

Stewyb1 wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:52 pm
All talk of f35’s being based at any airbase other than The Heath, the hall or FFD is utterly ridiculous. These are fully operational USAF airfields and will be utilised accordingly for any future deployments or TDY, end of!
It's taken six pages to get it, but finally a succinct and eminently sensible response. :thumb:

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Re: Two more US F-35 Sqns to the UK

Post by Reach1985 » Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:50 am

I’ve an even more sensible reply 😀 the ONLY base these F-35s will go (if they indeed appear!) is LN. End of. LN is the only base capable of supporting these jets in the UK for a deployment of any length of time.

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