Sunny Boulmer!!

[nofinliver]

So now our "Marmite" Northumberland CRC (you either love it or hate it !!) is staying open a while longer what's going to happen to Trumpton, sorry Scampton? I've heard various rumours, most of which can be ruled out immediately. Anyone got any gossip on it or indeed 1ACC?

 

[mad_collie]

Until the ASACS review is complete, it's still in the air. No news on what is happening to the reds either.

 

[MAINJAFAD]

Are we still going to get involved with NATO ACCS?

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

Are we still going to get involved with NATO ACCS?

Believe we have to be involved and this is what will force the longer term future of the ASACS community. IMHO Scampton was an expensive mistake (the location, not the second unit part) and someone severely needs their trousers down for a spank.

The Reds (re)location is going to be a major factor as well, Waddington for them anyone?

The real issue is money, Boulmer costs nothing land-wise, conversely there is no profit to be made from closing as Defence Estates do not own the site.

I still think Leeming (after the F3 force drawdown) is a real option for the future.

 

[Fearless Leader]

Oh mate, if you're down to Trumpton shortly (which I think is a great name but does that make Boulmer 'Camberwick Green'?) give them a good slap and ask WTF they do all day frickin day!

 

[MAINJAFAD]

Believe we have to be involved and this is what will force the longer term future of the ASACS community. IMHO Scampton was an expensive mistake (the location, not the second unit part) and someone severely needs their trousers down for a spank.

Got to meet somebody high up who was involved in killing the A6 hub move to Scampton a while back and they told me quite a good story about how people who should have been in the loop on that decision (like the people who knew what the real meaning of the term 'Care and Maintenance' was), weren't. Had they been, the Scampton CRC move would most likely not have not happened.

The Reds (re)location is going to be a major factor as well, Waddington for them anyone?

Moving the Red's on to an active airfield used by other unit's has already been tried (this is the second time they have been based at Scampton, with Cranwell in between). The reason they moved back to Scampton, was because Scampton still had to be manned up as an active airfield to support their training, for which Scampton's airspace was still used. I do remember being told by somebody from Marham, there were plans back in the 1990's to move them to Marham when Scampton was first planned to be closed, However, when Marham found out what the Red's air space and time slots requirement were, I believe the word's ‘In your dream's’ or stronger words to that effect were mentioned.

The real issue is money, Boulmer costs nothing land-wise, conversely there is no profit to be made from closing as Defence Estates do not own the site.

Isn't that always the case.

I still think Leeming (after the F3 force drawdown) is a real option for the future.

Now that ASACS has its own little empire, can you really see it getting into bed with the A6 Hub? I would have thought that being near the ISTAR Hub (i.e. Waddo) was the major objective (the main reason Scampton was selected for the second CRC in the first place).

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

Now that ASACS has its own little empire, can you really see it getting into bed with the A6 Hub? I would have thought that being near the ISTAR Hub (i.e. Waddo) was the major objective (the main reason Scampton was selected for the second CRC in the first place).

There were a couple of issues in the first place, Conningsby was offered as an option but the initial cost (new CRC/SFC) was prohibitive at the time. What has happened post-UCCS is the working knowledge that we can now really locate anywhere that has a bunch of telephone lines. UCCS gives us nearly as much as NATO ACCS with some limitations, not bad for a bit of interim kit.

Can anywhere else become an option? Looking at the Reds' airspace requirements I would doubt that anywhere other than Waddington is possible. Waddington could deal with the aircraft movements that the Reds generate daily and they are minutes from the Scampton danger area that they use at the moment. The main reason for leaving Cranwell was the flight planning issues around CFS sorties and the restrictions that a 9-ship take off caused.

I don't think the ISTAR issue is going to be a FC/TG12 problem for much longer. Waddington's current issues, coupled with the large number of F3 aircrew on full flying pay that will soon be without aeroplanes, would suggest that the two-winged master race will have the E3 back seats stitched up in no time at all, this happens everytime an F3 sqn disbands so why be different now? There will still be a working relationship with the ISTAR hub but there are so many more customers for their product now that the UKASACS is almost an afterthought when it is not seen as completely relevent for real-world operations by some of the wider RAF.

Back to the original topic, Boulmer is occasionaly strapped for manning and moving everyone back from sunny Scampton would certainly make life easier for us all. I don't really care where they put the final CRC, just as long as we are given the manpower to use it fully!

 

[The Stig]

I think the only people to worry about the soon to be uneployed back seaters are the surveilance world!! Tried it with the WC's and look at that sucess rate!!!

Oh meant to say, GET RID OF BOULMER ITS A HOLE THAT NEEDS FILLING IN!!!!!!!!

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

I think the only people to worry about the soon to be uneployed back seaters are the surveilance world!! Tried it with the WC's and look at that sucess rate!!!

Oh meant to say, GET RID OF BOULMER ITS A HOLE THAT NEEDS FILLING IN!!!!!!!!

Oh goodie, another full of self importance controller!DT_Xtremez_34:

And to provoke more intelligent debate, why is Boulmer a hole?

Property is affordable (just), prices are not falling. 2 minutes from the beach and 10 minutes to sprawling English countryside. Fantastic education system for the sprogs, low crime in the area, good sporting teams locally.

Newcastle 30 minutes south, Edinburgh 60 mins north (on the train) and an airport that can take you anywhere.

Hmmmm, Lincolnshire for me every time!

 

[Fearless Leader]

Ah but these are the same kind of doomsayers NAIDOY who just moan wherever they end up, like the gits who hated Neatishead but would have turned to a pillar of salt if they went anywhere else.

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

Ah but these are the same kind of doomsayers NAIDOY who just moan wherever they end up, like the gits who hated Neatishead but would have turned to a pillar of salt if they went anywhere else.

Spot on there me old! I for one thought Buchan was the @rse end of the world but I still had one of my best tours there! You summed it up in another thread when you said about people wanting everything laid on for them these days.

 

[Never Alert]

NAIY,

hope you are well fella?!

I don't think The Stig expected such a big bite so quickly, he's gonna need a bigger boat!!!

Seriously, there is an issue with F3 Navs (no plans for pilots to come our way) passing the E3 weapons module & the success rate is low. They are rushed onto the jet in order to justify flying pay & are not up to it due to a lack of experience.

With that in mind, I suspect that the FC weapons world will always have seats on the jet however, Surv slots may wittle away. I think it is a sad state of affairs however, I suspect we will be unable to stop it happening.

For me, the issue with Boulmer is the working atmosphere there, it suffocates any morale & quickly buries it. I for one am not a fan & have asked the DO to post me anywhere but there....Waddo would be good! Location wise, you're right mate, it is stunning however...

Moving on.

Scampton's surv workload is dictated by Boulmer SFC, plain and simple. There is also an issue with the low number of IDOs we have. Although they do have days where there is not much console work, they are almost ALWAYS on call outside of work & do not have the luxury of 4 days off. So, before flying into them, perhaps people should take a look at just how much of their lives they spend on recall, preventing them from travelling anywhere further that Lincoln.

Us weapons monkeys do our fair share of sorties & our stats are healthy so, no justification for berating us there either.

Fridays I hear someone ask? They are a joy...

Normal ops until about 1330 & then compulsory PT until 1600, every Friday. It makes it difficult for those travelling as they end up in rush hour traffic every time. Rush hour traffic around Lincoln is appalling, the road system is not up to the job at all. Please remember that we all work a full week here & noone gets 4 days off...

As for the future of CRC & Reds. We have no idea here although that could be about to change. My money is on the CRC staying in place until the new kit arrives & the Reds will stay here (that is what their money is on too).

Time will tell!

 

[The Stig]

Some great comments from you guys and "Never Alert" hit the nail on the head, the working atmosphere at Boulmer, SFC and CRC is poor, having spent 6 years in total at both I feel I am more than qualified to comment. Stuck in the middle of nowhere with locals who actually don't want your family taking local jobs and fellas not wanting you to even look at the local girl's never mind go out with one.
I for one say why oh why did they shut 2 great camps in Buchan and Neatishead and keep Boulmer open!!!!

Oh and "NOTANIDOYET" what good local sporting teams do you mean????

Alnwick Town is the only one I can think of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Stig A.D.I.]

I did nearly 5 years there (left at the end of '05) and I loved it!

But then, I'm not a Scopie/IDO, etc. I know it's not held in the same regard by those trades, but I still think it's the RAF's best kept secret (in England, at least!)

DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

Some great comments from you guys and "Never Alert" hit the nail on the head, the working atmosphere at Boulmer, SFC and CRC is poor, having spent 6 years in total at both I feel I am more than qualified to comment. Stuck in the middle of nowhere with locals who actually don't want your family taking local jobs and fellas not wanting you to even look at the local girl's never mind go out with one.
I for one say why oh why did they shut 2 great camps in Buchan and Neatishead and keep Boulmer open!!!!

Oh and "NOTANIDOYET" what good local sporting teams do you mean????

Alnwick Town is the only one I can think of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to play sport there is a thriving Rugby/Football/Hockey/Athletics/Tennis (shall I go on...) teams, Premier Football (maybe not for long!DT_Xtremez_30 down the road, Premiership Rugby, Ice Hockey, Basketball.

I, and so are plenty of others, am married to a local girl, maybe you have just been knocked back too many times and have a complex about it (bearing in mind I am no bronzed Adonis, I still managed to find a local with only the one head!)

The work attitude is created by people. from the top to the bottom and this has recently been addressed. Personality goes a long way and there are a lot of people, from both sides of the class divide, too happy to sit in crewrooms/offices moaning about how sh!t things are instead of getting off their @rses and doing something about it.

 

[norfolkred1]

If you want to play sport there is a thriving Rugby/Football/Hockey/Athletics/Tennis (shall I go on...) teams, Premier Football (maybe not for long!DT_Xtremez_30 down the road, Premiership Rugby, Ice Hockey, Basketball.

I, and so are plenty of others, am married to a local girl, maybe you have just been knocked back too many times and have a complex about it (bearing in mind I am no bronzed Adonis, I still managed to find a local with only the one head!)

The work attitude is created by people. from the top to the bottom and this has recently been addressed. Personality goes a long way and there are a lot of people, from both sides of the class divide, too happy to sit in crewrooms/offices moaning about how sh!t things are instead of getting off their @rses and doing something about it.

With you on this one fella. Two tours 11 and a half years at Boulmer. seen it grow from little house on the Prairie to its current status. Although the locals were not the friendliest at first but have grown up with them and on return am treated like one. The place to me is part of my youth and the locals never forget a face, 'have yer been on leave pet' no love posted away 2 years ago.

 

[LCMOTPET]

BBB...Boulmer

BBB...Boulmer

If your planning on a staying in TG12 for the next few years you can bet your bottom dollar your going to do time at Boulmer penitentary!!!

Did 4 years there and to be honest it was pretty good.
Did my stint in the green bit on top of the hill so managed to avoid all the politics, and just did my best to stay away from SFC at all costs. And the hole only had a handful of linky Asops in it. Had some good laughs there met some top pepole. Cpl CCs tannoy to the station...Legend!!!!
Lived out in local community and found the locals a good bunch really, treat pepole with a little respect, you will be amazed at the results!!
Remember over the years they seen our lot come and go, they live there full time, so a bunch of RAFers giving the big i am would probably upset anyone from any area.

So chill and accept Boulmer for what it is and try and live a little in one of the UKs best areas. Every once in a while head down to the Big Toon if you think thats no good then you are really beyond help.
PS.as for scampton who cares, ££s will decide that one eventually!!!

Peace outDT_Xtremez_19:

 

[MAINJAFAD]

Cpl CCs tannoy to the station...Legend!!!!

Didn't happen to be about RAF Policemen's lack of fathers by any chance???

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

Off Topic

Didn't happen to be about RAF Policemen's lack of fathers by any chance???

As the gentleman in concerns escort at the subsequent disciplinary action I can categorically state that "Standby for broadcast, stand by for broadcast. All coppers are kn()bs, All coppers are kn()bs. End of broadcast." was the actual phrase uttered by the man who went on to achieve legend status. Never before have I seen someone get a round of applause when walking into the mess for tea!

Even more poignant when the man in question's dad was... wait for it...




An RAF Copper!

For those who know him, he is doing rather well for himself since leaving the mob.

 

[JAFAD666]

You`re famous Boomer broadcast is a topic on the E-Goat.

Am I right in thinking that you were released early by the FEDs
because you were the DJ for a coppers leaving do that night ?


Answer from the big man ...

Yes that's about right. What's e-goat? Have you got a link? Might be
fun to see who's saying what.

God he`s got a crap memory I`ve told him loads of times about the goat.

(linky sent)