Royal Air Force

Personally I think MOD will hold on to Wittering as the land isnt owned by MOD, so no money for the deficit.

Thanks for the replies,

Indeed there is a lot of speculation especially with the SDSR , the entire budget looks to be cut by about 7-8% depending on who you read.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11556770

That aside Cottesmore surely can't be the only fast fixed-wing airfield due for closure.

Maybe with the C130-Herculeus fleet at RAF Lyneham fleet moving to RAF Brize Norton? But that's not fast fixed-wing!

Any more airfields that you think are possible for closure?

George: Too soon to say. The MOD has set up an SDSR implementation team which will flesh out the detail of the review, including base closures, unit moves etc, and that is rumoured to report in September 2011. The list of units staying open may be shorter than the list of units closing. Anyway, major withdrawal of equipment and units from BAOR may result in some of the RAF stations being transferred to the Army, aka Swanton Morley, Spitalgate, Abingdon etc etc. Defence can breathe a big sigh of relief that the cuts are not any deeper. This is not a strategic defence review - this is a major cost cutting exercise.

Exactly Ted, as you say its not a Strategic review. A Strategic review would look in to such things as who should have the parachute role, in fact should there be a Parachute regiment? And should that regiment be under RAF control? Does each service need its own medics? Why are the Commandos part of the Navy? Do we actually need Commandos? And does each service need its own band service?

Welcome to the British Defence Force - Khaki jacket, blue-grey trousers and matelots cap!

canberra;57202 wrote:

My personal theory is the Harriers will finish... when it comes to the Navy carriers, I cant help wondering why the Jaguar maritime version wasnt pursued.

Discussion on this on TV this morning. Andrew Marr asked, 'Why are we building carriers when we have no aircraft?' The minister replied, 'Watch this space!'

About 10 years ago there was talk of a navalised Typhoon.

Yes they were going to fit a button on the belly ???

TED

ps had an incursion onto Leuchars this morning got shots of the FFMT shed and the huts adjacent to MRT pictures on Leuchars site later

Alright whats FFMT??? Sometimes I could have used a word beginning with F about MT!