OK,
Anybody heard any specualation about what is going to happen to the BBMF now that Coningsby is about to be ‘mothballed’ along with some of its execrable Tornado F3?
I believe there was to be a runway resurface or some major works there this year anyway so presumably plans had been laid. It’s just I don’t know what they were.
Moggy
The nice man from the government said on the radio this morning that previously we had five squadrons of fighters defending the UK, but now we will have four this doesn’t mean there will be a reduction in the number of effective aircraft or pilots.
I wish I spoke ‘politician’
By: tonyb - 7th February 2002 at 18:43
RE: Coningsby and the BBMF
In our Boston papers this week, the community liason officer for Coningsby said the BBMF will definitely return to Coningsby on completion of the runway resurfacing.
5 Sqdn is to be disbanded and its personnel to go to Leuchars and Leeming. However, since 5 Sqdn is one of the senior sqadrons, there is already pressure being applied to create the first Typhoon squadron as 5.
By: GrahamOD - 5th February 2002 at 07:36
RE: Coningsby and the BBMF
I have to agree with Scampton being the logical choice from an enthusiasts point of view, but of course, the MOD aren’t enthusiasts!!
Scampton would be the choice from an historical point of view, certainley from the Lancs point of view. The BBMF vistor centre could include Gibsons office and Nigger’s grave etc, and they could do a whole lot else I’m sure to actract tourists.
There was talk of XH558 possibly operating out of Scampton as well if they ever get the funds to operate her again.
By: David J Burke - 4th February 2002 at 19:31
RE: HoHum n/t
It’s not that technically difficult to relocate the tool kits and spares from Coningsby to wherever, after all the RAF has been doing that for the past ten years with the number of stations that has closed.
By: SADSACK - 4th February 2002 at 18:45
RE: HoHum n/t
I was thinking of that but you cant get 11 crew and spares in a Chipmunk!
Would the Dakota stay at Conningsby as a hack?
By: SADSACK - 4th February 2002 at 18:21
RE: HoHum n/t
I stand half corrected, but still getting the crews back and forth will be a hell of an excercise.
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th February 2002 at 18:17
RE: HoHum n/t
Sorry Sadsack, must correct you there. As I understand it, the ground crews are all full time on BBMF, it’s the aircrew who do it part time.
By: SADSACK - 4th February 2002 at 17:35
RE: HoHum n/t
I really dont know how its going to work. The maintainance and crews all work on the airfrmaes in there spare time, being operational crews at Conningsby. Moving the mass of spares and tools from Conningsby would be similar to locating a small museum! And the crews would have to move with them…
By: P9306 - 1st February 2002 at 11:58
HoHum n/t
n/t
By: Steve Bond - 1st February 2002 at 11:07
RE: Coningsby and the BBMF
Sorry to be a party-pooper, but the Coningsby runway work is not going to happen until 2003, despite many “reports” in the aviation press to the contrary. Similarly, no decision has yet been made on where the BBMF will go during this work, with Barkston Heath, Cranwell and Scampton all in the running.
By: P9306 - 1st February 2002 at 10:49
RE: Coningsby and the BBMF
The BBMF are going to be operating from Barkston Heath this year while the runway is tarted up, which I presume is in readiness for the Typhoon coming into service.
But long term, I have a distinct feeling that the BBMF will be moved to Scampton to be with the Red Arrows to get them out of the way of the Typhoons at Coningsby. It may well happen later this year for all we know, with the BBMF going straight to Scampton from Barkston without going back to Coningsby. To me it would make perfect sense to have all the RAF display teams in one place, especially as Scampton is so underused currently, and Coningsby is likely to become a very busy place eventually.
If it does happen though, it would be very interesting to hear what plans they have for public access, not just for the BBMF but for the Reds as well, it would make a huge tourist attraction fot the area.
Apart from the first paragraph, it’s all speculation on my part, but it could be true.
TaTa
Mick
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February 1, 2002 at 9:31 am