Red Arrows RAF Scampton air base to be sold off

[TankBuster]

Could the Reds go to Wattisham?..

TankBuster

[Fighterfoto]

Leeming would be the logical choice.
1.The Tornado parts reclamation programme will be drawing to a close which frees up the hangar space requirements.
2.There is enough accommodation space for the RAF personnel to be housed.
3 100 Sqn don't tend to do much circuit bashing so the airspace is free relative to most other RAF Stations.
4 Joint location with another Hawk unit would help things such as BAe and Rolls Royce support.
5. A move to Wittering would mean moving out the flying units presently based there.
6. Leeming is chronically underused with only 100 Sqn and various joint exercises using the airfield.

The only down side is the lack of a simulator which is at Valley. I can't see Anglesey as a home for the Reds due to the lack of Hangar space, Accomodation and the airspace needs of 4 Sqn and the Texans (when they come out of hibernation).

But when has logic been the driver for MoD ideas ?

In reply:

2. Supposition on your part, there are a number of other units based at Leeming who use the existing housing.
3. Permission is required from the CAA to use airspace for training and this is more of a factor than how busy the circuit is.
4. Supposition again.
5. Not necessarily.
6. Sure there is more capacity to use the airfield but the station itself is very busy.

[Pune]

What about RAF Fairford, just a thought?

[f-4]

What about RAF Fairford, just a thought?

Well, they started there, so appropriate to finish there too!

[Agent K]

BBMF will go eventually to Duxford I am sure, the Lancaster has a hangar there and the engineering experts are now in private co's at Duxford. Reds could go any where but Valley seems the most likely.

1. It's a hangAr
2. ARCo carried out a major servicing under contract in their hangar, owned by them.
3. Unless the Lancaster and BBMF fleet is transferred to the civilian register that move isn't going to happen.
4. Logistics, as they are crewed by local pilots (Waddington/Coningsby) then that one wouldn't work either.

Otherwise yes that must be the answer.........

[Spitfire88]

I was waiting to see if anybody else suggested Fairford, it will be active by 2021, with lots of potential space and room for the USAF assets and ( looking more likely) 51sq also, the airspace would be avaliable almost the whole time and would not affect movements in and out of Brize, there are also no restrictions in the potential practice area with Fairford surrounded by lots of open countryside and a ceiling of 12000ft avalible, of course it's not the obvious choice but it seems to be one of the best.

[Agent K]

I was waiting to see if anybody else suggested Fairford, it will be active by 2021, with lots of potential space and room for the USAF assets and ( looking more likely) 51sq also, the airspace would be avaliable almost the whole time and would not affect movements in and out of Brize, there are also no restrictions in the potential practice area with Fairford surrounded by lots of open countryside and a ceiling of 12000ft avalible, of it's not the obvious choice but it seems to be one of the best.

But then you're defeating the object of the exercise which is RAF base closure with having to open to all intents and purposes a new RAF base with the infrastructure and support that's required.

[Spitfire88]

I was waiting to see if anybody else suggested Fairford, it will be active by 2021, with lots of potential space and room for the USAF assets and ( looking more likely) 51sq also, the airspace would be avaliable almost the whole time and would not affect movements in and out of Brize, there are also no restrictions in the potential practice area with Fairford surrounded by lots of open countryside and a ceiling of 12000ft avalible, of it's not the obvious choice but it seems to be one of the best.

But then you're defeating the object of the exercise which is RAF base closure with having to open to all intents and purposes a new RAF base with the infrastructure and support that's required.

Fairford will be open and fully active, the infrastructure is funded by NATO and all the work to bring it back up to speed will be completed by 2021, it will be staffed by the USAF, it's seems likely that the RAF Rivet joints will also be here so moving 12 hawks and 150 personal will be no problem.

[Andy_99]

Much as I'd like to say Wittering I doubt it due to the proximity to the A1, actually almost the same situation as Leeming.


What other Airfields are there in the MOD inventory that have capacity & don't need money spending on them.

[paddyboy]

John: you are an incorrigible old frat

I will be having words with T next time we meet

[graham luxton]

I was waiting to see if anybody else suggested Fairford, it will be active by 2021, with lots of potential space and room for the USAF assets and ( looking more likely) 51sq also, the airspace would be avaliable almost the whole time and would not affect movements in and out of Brize, there are also no restrictions in the potential practice area with Fairford surrounded by lots of open countryside and a ceiling of 12000ft avalible, of it's not the obvious choice but it seems to be one of the best.

But then you're defeating the object of the exercise which is RAF base closure with having to open to all intents and purposes a new RAF base with the infrastructure and support that's required.

Fairford will be open and fully active, the infrastructure is funded by NATO and all the work to bring it back up to speed will be completed by 2021, it will be staffed by the USAF, it's seems likely that the RAF Rivet joints will also be here so moving 12 hawks and 150 personal will be no problem.

With regard to airspace, it would impact on Brize Norton inbounds if Runway 07 was in use because the instrument approach would be within the rehearsal area. Also, Fairford is surrounded by busy Class G (see and be seen)airspace used mainly by the General Aviation community with aircraft transiting the area in all directions. Imposing airspace restrictions in such a busy area, so the Red Arrows could rehearse would, I suggest, not sufficiently protect them, considering the chances that the airspace might be infringed. Far safer for these rehearsals to be conducted from a base in a quieter area.

[tm74sqn]

Sounds as if re-activating RAF Upper Heyford or re-building RAF Greenham Common for Red Arrows use are both no-nos!

[Bluerigger1]

Leeming would be the logical choice.
1.The Tornado parts reclamation programme will be drawing to a close which frees up the hangar space requirements.
2.There is enough accommodation space for the RAF personnel to be housed.
3 100 Sqn don't tend to do much circuit bashing so the airspace is free relative to most other RAF Stations.
4 Joint location with another Hawk unit would help things such as BAe and Rolls Royce support.
5. A move to Wittering would mean moving out the flying units presently based there.
6. Leeming is chronically underused with only 100 Sqn and various joint exercises using the airfield.

The only down side is the lack of a simulator which is at Valley. I can't see Anglesey as a home for the Reds due to the lack of Hangar space, Accomodation and the airspace needs of 4 Sqn and the Texans (when they come out of hibernation).

But when has logic been the driver for MoD ideas ?

In reply:

2. Supposition on your part, there are a number of other units based at Leeming who use the existing housing.
3. Permission is required from the CAA to use airspace for training and this is more of a factor than how busy the circuit is.
4. Supposition again.
5. Not necessarily.
6. Sure there is more capacity to use the airfield but the station itself is very busy.

2. I know there are a number of other units at Leeming apart from 100 Sqn whose groundcrew are civilian and live off base. I've worked at Leeming and there is sufficient time to upgrade the existing accommodation to cater for a relatively small number of service personnel the Reds employ. Nobody said this would be a no cost exercise. If some ground based sections have to move out so be it.
3. Airspace regulations will have to be addressed wherever the Reds move to due to the large block of sky they occupy
4. How can benefits of the co-location of SME partners be supposition ?
5. Tutors and Hawks operating on the same airfield ? Not going to work, the Cranwell years proved that.
6. Respect to the Units based at Leeming but do they really need to be on an under utilized active airfield ?

[Vulcanone]

The last time they were going to be re-housed it was down the A15 at Waddington. I don't think the ISTAR fraternity were too happy

[deerhunter]

I hear (dont know if its true) but our army are to be given pointed sticks and learn how to shout BOO loudly. The Grob is to be our front line aircraft at Barton. The Navy are having heavily armed pedalos.

[Drinkmat]

I remember a while ago that with a new typhoon squadron standing up at Coningsby that the bbmf might of relocated to scampton, (if there was any truth in that I don't know) I guess they will not be moving there if it's closing.

Leering would be my choice (not that I get one) for the Reds given the vast amount of airspace around North Yorkshire especially with Linton closing down.

Is it really vast amounts of airspace they need, surely they need airspace from the ground to say 12,000ft? Having lived in Yorkshire for my younger life next to RAF Leeming I'd suggest a lot of that Yorkshire airspace wouldn't suit the needs (lack of clear centreline/runway, hilly, foggy, rainy, not flat etc.)

The airspace requirement for the Reds used to be 5nm radius and up to around 7,000 feet. I've been out of it long enough to forget the detail, and I'm not hooked into the modern Notam system, so please don't rely on my figures. Others on here may be able to give accurate and up to date information on this.

[the concerned]

How about boscombe down

[Thunder]

Plenty of room at Lossie and they could even practice over the runways at Kinloss, it's a no brainer.

[GUNHOG]

On Look North earlier it said it costs £9million a year to run the RAFAT or was I hearing things??

Guys could this not be money spent elsewhere I.e on our new Tempest Project!!!!

[Thunder]

£9million if that is the figure is small change. It probably cost the MoD twice that to come up with the "Tempest" name for their new project.