Base Closure Annoucement

Anyone heard any more speculation/information on when it's rumoured to be? It seemed to be the generally held belief that it would be 'after the Scottish elections', but I haven't seen anything that mentions a specific date.

Is it now a straight fight between Lossie and Leuchars, and possibly one other?

 

[Treehugger]

F**king C*nts the lot of them...

Never a truer word spoken.

I wouldn't have thought the change to Army use would have a tremendously negative impact on the village pubs, after all, the pongos like a jar or two. If a pub has been boarded up, it is probably because they are anticipating the arrival of the Army, and have decided to do away with the windows before the uniformed chavs do. Every single weekend.

Leuchars personnel were apparently also assured that there would be no 'dead period' between RAF and Army use; or at least the civvies were. Besides, it's still going to be 2 yrs or so before the Tiffy appears at Lossie in any permanent fashion.

 

[roslin]

Leuchars Pubs

Leuchars Pubs

Both on the either side of the road are open. Landlord of Commerical arms on TV last night worried as 85% of his trade RAF that he might not last the 2 year gap till Army arrive. I am in St.Andrews I hope the officers have the decency to tell the poor squaddies the average price of a pint here .

 

[ukmil]

there will be no gap, as I think a lot of people have not really been informed of the actual timeline. As I understood what the CinC said, is that Lossie will not be ready to accept ANY typhoons for at least 22 months. So that is mid 2013. Then, prob Sqn 4 will assemble there, and 'build up' to QRA duties. THey are mandated to be 'on QRA' by 2015. Then and Only then, will typhoon at Leuchars stand down, and begin the move to Lossie. ALL tiffies are then to be at lossie by 2017

So, the chances are, 6 sqn, or maybe Sqn 4 [since 6 are already trying to be the first sqn at lossie instead of sqn 4], will remain at leuchars until 2015 at least, prob into 2016

Now, the army side, are also mandated to have the HQ element, in postion and working by 2015

so, for at least a year, there will be Army and RAF at leuchars.

Since Leuchars currently has 1 sqn, and the req amount of support personel, then by my calculation, there will be NO drop in the amount of RAF people at leuchars between 2011, and 2015. But there will be a steady increase of Army input.

 

[Grease_monkey]

there will be no gap, as I think a lot of people have not really been informed of the actual timeline. As I understood what the CinC said, is that Lossie will not be ready to accept ANY typhoons for at least 22 months. So that is mid 2013. Then, prob Sqn 4 will assemble there, and 'build up' to QRA duties. THey are mandated to be 'on QRA' by 2015. Then and Only then, will typhoon at Leuchars stand down, and begin the move to Lossie. ALL tiffies are then to be at lossie by 2017

So, the chances are, 6 sqn, or maybe Sqn 4 [since 6 are already trying to be the first sqn at lossie instead of sqn 4], will remain at leuchars until 2015 at least, prob into 2016

Now, the army side, are also mandated to have the HQ element, in postion and working by 2015

so, for at least a year, there will be Army and RAF at leuchars.

Since Leuchars currently has 1 sqn, and the req amount of support personel, then by my calculation, there will be NO drop in the amount of RAF people at leuchars between 2011, and 2015. But there will be a steady increase of Army input.

I hope your theory is correct. It would be nice if when some kind of plan and timeline is formulated,that the people involved are informed. However, having been involved in 2 drawdowns already in the past 5 years, I somehow doubt it.

 

[Zeebad]

Even during the "Cold War" Leuchars was a minor player, not really essential and that is how it is. It was to have been closed in 1984 but the dynasty of senior RAF officers who live in that area put up a fearsome fight and it remained, as a not really important asset. And now we come to the wailing and gnashing of teeth to the personal insults......by doing so you lose any credibility. IF Leuchars had been an asset, it would not be closing, And of course I would ask, since when did being a serviceman become a democracy, though I accept that whinging has been the prerogative of servicemen through the centuries. ? I too once pressed a nice uniform, similar to yours and never spent more than 15 months on one posting. So dont be pompous

"minor player", The letters QRA represent Quick Reaction Alert and MEDA represents Military Emergency Diversion Airfield. " Wailing and gnashing of teeth", are you a drama queen? Riposte time: turn the picture the right way round donkey!

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

"minor player", The letters QRA represent Quick Reaction Alert and MEDA represents Military Emergency Diversion Airfield. " Wailing and gnashing of teeth", are you a drama queen? Riposte time: turn the picture the right way round donkey!

How much bleating? There have been lots of base closures in the last 25 years and some have held Q. Difference between Q at Lossie and Q at RAF Fife? Grand scheme of things - minimal. As for MEDA, just turn a few sections 24/7 - simples.

No one person, not one base and not one aircraft type is expendable in the modern military - so man up wet pants, and tell the rest of RAF Fife to do the same!!

 

[Mickwreay]

How much bleating? There have been lots of base closures in the last 25 years and some have held Q. Difference between Q at Lossie and Q at RAF Fife? Grand scheme of things - minimal. As for MEDA, just turn a few sections 24/7 - simples.

No one person, not one base and not one aircraft type is expendable in the modern military - so man up wet pants, and tell the rest of RAF Fife to do the same!!

Here here, LMFAO.

When the engine bay closed at Leu' the amount of "locals" crying their eyes out was unreal!

Why me, why us, why oh why.

Loads of lads gonna PVR cos they were gonna be moved away from home!

My sympathy was in short supply, yes there will be kids, wives & families going through a big upheaval & that’s never good………..BUT……………they all knew this when they joined up.

I’ve never been to a camp like it for people doing full careers there.

They have a choice to make, sit & blub or be first in the queue by finding a slot which means the least pain for them. Call your mates around the RAF & put your suggestion to the drafter. Alternatively they can wait to get the dross!

As another member says…….crack on!

 

[Joe_90]

Did you never do Colt then Mick? That was just as bad as Leuchars for full careers.

 

[roslin]

Handover

Handover

I hope Unimil is right local tv was saying that there will be a fallow period of around 12/15 months

 

[Mickwreay]

Did you never do Colt then Mick? That was just as bad as Leuchars for full careers.

No mate,

Lyneham was my last tour till Feb 2010.
A lot of lads had been there forever, but that was the only base for Hercs! A lot of crying going on there tbh.

Nothing is set in stone, be it in the RAF or Civvy St.
They just need to be proactive and not wait & moan when they don't get to where they want.

 

[ukmil]

I hope Unimil is right local tv was saying that there will be a fallow period of around 12/15 months

Well, TV did not get all the facts. But of course, timelines were not set in stone, are are only a guide, lots may happen

 

[mild mannered janitor]

There is to be an overlap period at leuchars whole the army move in and us lot out so the camp will not have a period of inactivity. Should keep the locals a bit happier.

 

[Mickwreay]

Should keep the locals a bit happier.

Until the locals realise that the RAF are generally well behaved!

The RAF Brüggen to Javelin Barracks was not that smooth I seem to remember!

 

[BillyBunter]

Alec S has put out a press thingy saying the airfield must be kept OP. I think that will happen How are the VIPs and Bigwigs going to get to the St.Andrews Links ? Spend an hour coming from Auld Reekie on what passes for a motorway the M90 ! then trying to get through Cupar. Seriously it looks like the aero cafe Chippy and the Commerical arms may not last the 2 year hiatus. Anyone ever down a jar or two in it?

Since Leuchars is to be retained by the Army then its fair to assume the helicopter fleet will be used to transfer VIPs to there golf outing days, you dont need a large runway then. We soon to be run by the Army so what effectively they are doing is moulding the Armed Forces to there needs.

Simples

And for thos at Leuchars , being Kinloss its a horrible thing to happen, nobody really gives much sympathy because everyone outside Leuchars does not care a monkeys, they are just glad there life continues where they are.

 

[Realist78]

Here here, LMFAO.

When the engine bay closed at Leu' the amount of "locals" crying their eyes out was unreal!

Why me, why us, why oh why.

Loads of lads gonna PVR cos they were gonna be moved away from home!

My sympathy was in short supply, yes there will be kids, wives & families going through a big upheaval & that’s never good………..BUT……………they all knew this when they joined up.

I’ve never been to a camp like it for people doing full careers there.

They have a choice to make, sit & blub or be first in the queue by finding a slot which means the least pain for them. Call your mates around the RAF & put your suggestion to the drafter. Alternatively they can wait to get the dross!

As another member says…….crack on!

One bloke in the engine bay there turned down his crown twice because it involved a posting away from his beloved Leuchars. Daft tw@ts offered him it a third time with a posting on station a couple of years later.:S

 

[Zeebad]

Since Leuchars is to be retained by the Army then its fair to assume the helicopter fleet will be used to transfer VIPs to there golf outing days, you dont need a large runway then. We soon to be run by the Army so what effectively they are doing is moulding the Armed Forces to there needs.

Simples

And for thos at Leuchars , being Kinloss its a horrible thing to happen, nobody really gives much sympathy because everyone outside Leuchars does not care a monkeys, they are just glad there life continues where they are.

Well said mate. I was at ISK and Leu. The Army are very clever at manipulation to get what they want, I am sure they have choked once to often at formals when our high priced help have refered to the R & A.

 

[mild mannered janitor]

nobody really gives much sympathy because everyone outside Leuchars does not care a monkeys, they are just glad there life continues where they are.

life goes on wherever you are at the time, im sorry to see leuchars close (it was my first posting) but thats life.
Its done get on with it we are all in the forces and we expect to move. Im at lossie but want to move again i've done over two years here and it's time for a change for me and mrs mmj (also in the mob).

simple solution if you are at leuchars and want to stay? get out of the military as it's not for you! sorry but all this **** is part and parcel of the deal.

harsh but true.DT_Xtremez_25:

 

[Zeebad]

How much bleating? There have been lots of base closures in the last 25 years and some have held Q. Difference between Q at Lossie and Q at RAF Fife? Grand scheme of things - minimal. As for MEDA, just turn a few sections 24/7 - simples.

No one person, not one base and not one aircraft type is expendable in the modern military - so man up wet pants, and tell the rest of RAF Fife to do the same!!

Firstly, I am not bleating. I do not need a lesson on base closures as there were almost 100000 airman serving when i took the queens shilling. As far as your opinion on QRA; you are ignorant at best. I have done QRA at Leu AND Lossie! Minimal is a poor choice to describe the comparison. Have you done either of these duties? " just turn a few sections 24/7 - simples." With answers like that you must work in an ivory tower because you have lost touch with the coal face. Your rambling about "No one person, ...." Why do you refer to RAF Leuchars as RAF Fife? I find your contempt laughable: your ignorance frightening and as mainly a reader on the goat, I have expected better of you. As far as your insults, "man up wet pants", you seem to be jumping on a band wagon, surely you don't need to look down on peoples misfortunes to make yourself feel better or have you got the same view as Mick with the big BUT in his sentence!

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

Coal face? If your definition is not direct daily support to Herrick 24/7 for the last 4 years then I guess I am not on the coal face. One of three people on the goat that can say that.

As for Q, yes, I have done Q shifts and plenty of them. I also understand airspace, speed, distance, time calculations. Finally a MEDA is just that - a few sections 24 hour manned. I have done more MEDA shifts than you can shake a crappy stick at.

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

Oh and how is it someone's misfortunes? It's called life in a blue suit. Not my problem that you have probably spent your whole life there! As you have said, you took the Queen's shilling, pay back time!