Goodbye Turnhouse

Reading the above posts has reminded me of a very pleasant Spring day in 1976 which included a few hours at the Scottish base. From memory, after a routine morning in my Ops Wing office at RAF St Mawgan I climbed into a Nimrod for an afternoon ‘excursion’ courtesy of 42 Sqn. Once airborne I recall enjoying very nice low level views of the Cornish countryside before quietly sneaking up on some rod anglers in the back of their little fishing boats in St Austell Bay. I can only assume that there must have been a very good reason why we didn’t ‘power up’ our deafening engines until we were directly overhead these unsuspecting boat people. I can only imagine the insults and threats they aimed at us as we roared away! Anyway, after this little bit of fun we continued east up the English Channel towards Devon where more good views were had including close-ups of Plymouth city centre and Plymouth Hoe. Here we spent some time practising a fly-by over the city in preparation for an upcoming Lord Mayor’s day’s parade which would be officially ‘opened’ by a St Mawgan Nimrod. On completion of this rehearsal we turned north and set course for Scotland and RAF Turnhouse.

Looking forward to more dramatic scenery and a rare opportunity of seeing the magnificent Forth bridges which had always fascinated me, I was more than pleased to have such super clear views of the two famous structures as we approached the base. After landing on what, I suppose, would have been the old runway, I ran into an old RAF friend I hadn’t seen for several years who told me all about the base and how much he enjoyed being there. I could see why, it seemed to me be a good posting for any young airman wanting something a little bit different. Following a good ‘chewing the fat’ session with my friend, I rejoined the Nimrod crew for the return trip to St Mawgan which allowed more views of beautiful UK scenery including the Scottish and Welsh mountains.

On arrival back in Cornwall I just had time to lock my office before walking through the camp to the bus stop to catch my usual 10 past 5 Western National double decker to my home in Newquay. A nice slow end to an otherwise fairly hectic but very enjoyable day out.

Sadly, although I have pleasant memories of RAF Turnhouse as it was in 1976, I don’t think I would recognise the place today.

Regards………Paul

Landing RW 31 1970

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sigh….

Old Turnhouse Runway now marked with an “X”.
(Photo by Jordan Lamb)

GATEGUARD:

Housing and industrial estate (Edit, oops, Robert posted before me!)

There have been CAA restrictions on 12/30 for a while- it’s only been available for take off to the South East if the main runway is operating, as to avoid deconflict with the main runway (in case of landings, to avoid overshoot/go arounds), take-offs and landings towards the North west were prohibited (I once took off that way about 15 years ago on a Loganair flight when the main runway was temporarily closed, but don’t recall anyone else using it that way).

Even the odd occasion it has been used has only been at night, when the main runway was being repaired. What has really killed it is the new Terminal extension will encroach onto the top end.

The remaining ex-RAF buildings ahve been disappearing. The domestic accomodation was demolished years ago, but notthing has been developed on that site (Last use, riot training for the Police!)

From the “Scotsman” July 2017
Edinburgh Airport is to sacrifice its secondary runway to build a massive business and housing complex. It has unveiled plans for a site that could stretch to more than 100 acres which is claimed would be one of the best-connected developments in Scotland.Offices, homes and industrial buildings would stretch from south-east of the passenger terminal to nearly as far as the Gogar roundabout.
The site will occupy much of the crosswind runway, which the airport said was rarely used. It runs south-east to north-west and cannot be used at the same time as the adjacent main south-west to north-east runway. However, the crosswind runway is used during runway maintenance and resurfacing.Mr Dewar admitted: “It will make it harder to avoid disruption, but we believe we have solutions that will address it.”

It is a shame to see it go. You get a good look at 12/30 from any train heading North to Dalmeny. I thought that they used the runway very occasionally when work was being carried out on the main runway. Usually I hear about it when people at work who live out that way start complaining about loud aircraft.

The original buildings of RAF Turnhouse have been disappearing over the last few years. In fact, when I visited the Malta air museum last year the Scottish couple (mid 40s, at a guess) were asking each other if they knew where RAF Turnhouse was. Clearly the connection between it and EDI has been largely lost.

Runway 12/30 has not really be used for flying for many years, in the recent past its been an overspill area for Edinburgh Airport visitors. It will be interesting to see what they do with it though.

My mistake. I didn’t realise the second Turnhouse runway was already closed and had been for some time. Certainly when we pulled the Electra down it to raise money for a charity, I recall there being a lot more of it left, and the flying club used both runways. Apologies to all those whom I may have confused. It wasn’t an April Fool, but just a senior moment.

The main Edinburgh airport runway is safe.

Kind Regards,
Scotty

My first solo off that runway in a Cessna 150. Great memories of that time.

As I read it, the current runway is a 1970s addition, so it’s more that the RAF Turnhouse runway is disappearing, rather than the Edinburgh Airport is closing.

The OP suggests to me that Turnhouse is closing, but unless I’m very much mistaken, it’s only that the cross-wind runway is closing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Airport

Big shame.

Had many memorable flights from 13/31 (as it was before the numbering was re-aligned). Viscounts, BAC1-11s, Comet 4s, 12 AEF Chipmunks, Cessnas 150 and 172 EFC, Bandeirantes, PA 350 Chieftains, Twin Otter, Boeing 737-200QCs, F27s, Sikorsky S58ET, BV234 Chinook, SD330, Rockwell 690B and dH Herons. The rest were all from the “new” runway…..

“Turnhouse no more”……should be included now in the old Proclaimers song, along with Methil, Linwood, Lochaber etc..etc.. ad infinitum.