DCI Gene Hunt

Well it ain't looking good oop North for RAF Lossie or Kinloss

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...tland-11237418

Jamie

Not good

Leslie

Seems to me like a tactical error to close down both of those airfields. Looks as though our Services are going to be cut back so seriously that our defences will effectively disappear. We could well wind up in the situation that we were in approaching WW2.

Les

Jamie

True Leslie and the navy is doomed

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Thats my old stomping ground.

Not only the tactical implications, but also the effects on the local services/business's, as it says in the report, the services put £160m into the area.

Lossie, at one piont was the bussiest front line base in the UK. IMO we should keep at least one of them operational.

baz995

iTrader: (8)

I used to live there when my old man was based at HMS Fulmar, yep before the Crabfats came along lol. Be a sad day if it does go and as a side note it was my understanding from the FAA point of view that it was one of the places shortlisted for the new JSF and it was going to be based there so not sure why they are gonna close it.

Had happy memories there

Petem95

I read about this in the Telegraph about a month or so back. Apparently the Tornado is due a refit to extend its service life, costing about £10m per aircraft. Sounds like that may be scrapped.

I've got a mate who's a Tornado pilot based at Lossie, so obviously not great news for him, especially as he bought a house there last year.

Understandable that massive cuts need to be made, but it annoys me that rather than making savings by tackling immigration and legal aid for criminals etc they just cut back defence.

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

Scoobychick willl be most gutted as she wont be able to ogle the nice airmen any more

Leslie

I don't mind the odd ogle or two!

Les

Turbo2

If this is true, it's amazing how many airfields have been taken out of service since the 1980's.

My Dad and I used to plane-spot fairly regularly. There were plenty of options in East Anglia alone:

Wittering: Harrier training (little activity these days)
Cottesmore: International MRCA training (ie. Tornados), with bi-annual visit of Corsairs by US Air National Guard with Starlifter & Galaxy support (Harrier base now)
Alconbury: USAF F5's, Phantoms, TR-1s (U2) (closed)
Wyton: Canberra (nothing much happening these days)
Binbrook: Lightnings (closed)
Coningsby: Phantoms & Tornados (now Typhoons)
Coltishall: Jaguars (closed)
Marham: Tornados & Victors (now Tornados)
Waddington: Vulcan (now Tankers, Sentries, Nimrods)
Lakenheath: USAF Phantoms, later (and still) F15's
Mildenhall: USAF transport, KC135 tankers & AWACS (same today)
Upper Heyford: USAF F111's (closed)
Woodbridge: USAF A10's (closed)
Bentwaters: USAF A10's (closed)

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I suppose on the plus side if Lossie closes I'll at least be able to watch NCIS in peace every evening instead of having to pause it every time a Tornado flies past my window, which they've been doing a LOT of this week. Must be national night flying week

Simon C

Lakenheath IIRC is now F22 Raptors. I watched 2 get scrambled a month ago Noisey buggers at 8am. Think my USN friends said the F15's are being retired.

andys

Depends if you are talking about c's or e's

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Insignificant if WW3 does break out ?

dunx

Leslie

Finningley (navigator training) closed.

baz995

iTrader: (8)

without flaming my crabfat oppos i dont have too much sympathy to be honest, the FAA had 57 airfields and bases in 1948 now we have 2!! change is a coming, on another note i read yesterday they want to chop 22000 soldiers from the rank and file in the Army, that will chafe