Royal Air Force

AiXAdmin;34702 wrote:

As for Northern Ireland - Aldergrove for example - worked OK as a Mil/Civ airfield...

Worked well for St Mawgan too

It must be true because the MOD have just spent £Millions on new SLAM accommodation and a new HQ for 90SU at Leeming and I did mention Richard Branson's interest in Lossiemouth for his Virgin Galactic space flights in another thread . Its always a bad sign if the MOD spend money on something !
I suspect our armed forces will go the way of the Canadians and we may well see the removal of the words Army , Navy and Air Force to be replaced by the singular Defence ?

There is nothing new in this info at all.

I also fear that John Cooper may be nearer the truth than any of us would dare think!

I also predict that Marham is doomed, you may jump on me for that, but wait and see.

PNK;34750 wrote:

The problem with budget cuts is that they satisfy the current requirements (4 year term of government!) but these things need to be looked at in a much longer context. The cost of building back up, if required, is far greater than any saving. Just a thought.

Just a thought hmm now there lies your problem that would require politicians with intelligence who can actually think.

I know someone who has just retired from The Canadian Forces [Warrant Officer], although ostensibly he was an airman he served on Canadian Warships off Serbia/Croatia servicing helicopters, they are an integrated outfit.

I'm a little surprised that Civilians now operate on a First/Second Line Servicing Basis, but then I'm exactly 40 years out of touch......:shock:

On that last point from John , I have had recent visits to both Leeming and Linton , and both are on the list for possible closure but hopefully not because of my visits , and both employ civilian contracting companies for ALL of their aircraft maintenance . At Leeming it is BAe and Linton have VT Aerospace and I'm sure it is the same on all of our airfields ? When I was down at Middle Wallop in April they had both FBH and Augusta Wesland for their helicopter
fleet . I know that many of those employed are ex-service personnel themselves and see very little change in their work routine except for the logo on their overalls and perhaps their salary ?
Interestingly VT's contract at Linton is up for renewal in the New Year .

... and both employ civilian contracting companies for ALL of their aircraft maintenance

This is all well and good, but a skilled, motivated and disciplined body of people is what the forces are really about - threat's change as does hardware and real estate requirements. The loss of some sites is hard to take, but cuts in manpower and recruitment frightens the hell out of me. (Recent TA budget cut 'U Turn' for example)

Who's training the next generations of civvy maintenance personnel?

David,
A unified Defence Force is a non-starter. The RAF and the Army have spent years (nay, decades) coming to an accommodation whereby each could take the pi$$ out of each other without taking too much offence! Great! The Canadians tried this experiment - disaster (as even the Canucks will admit)
The Navy, however, think they rule the world. Pity. They are about to be reduced to a totally sub-surface organisation. Their last throw of the dice to remain a Blue Water Fleet ceased when the Argies packed it in in Falkland. Our current Govt is, according to the Telegraph (therefore it must be true!), about to flog off the RFAs. No RFA - No surface fleet - QED.
As far as airfields are concerned, the only way forward is to have some airfields (most?) as Joint Users (Civvy one side, Military the other).
The major problem is that a left-wing govt does not like the military. The military has Officers, who give Orders to non-Officers. Bad PR!! However, whilst some Officers may be thick, thare are more thick non-officers (been both!). Therefore a hierarchy exists. Some are 'doers', and some are 'issuers of orders'. This state of affairs has existed for (roughly) about 10,000 years - and will continue to do so, regardless of Political Correctness.
It all comes down to money!
HTH
Resmoroh