Scampton Up For Sale

Potential sites for Reds identified as Wittering, Waddington or Leeming..

My guess is that Waddington has been included to appease the locals for now – there has been a certain amount of anguish expressed in the area at the thought of ‘losing’ the Arrows to another county.

I would think in reality, it is very very unlikely – they were planned to move to Waddington a few years ago, but increased use of Waddington for the Sentinels and Shadows lead to them staying put. The plan at that time was for them to continue to use the airspace above Scampton for flying/training because airspace over Waddo was too busy to permit it. Not going to be possible this time around as Scampton will no longer be RAF property.

Wittering has a lot going for it – not a majorly busy active base,room to accommodate the Red Arrows and their flying sessions, not that far away from where they are now, and the added benefit (from the point of view of those in Lincolnshire upset at losing them) – it isn’t in Yorkshire!

Regarding proximity to the A1; Scampton is scarily close to the A15, which whilst not as busy as the A1, nonetheless carries a fairly heavy traffic load.

I recall Bicester Airfield has been earmarked for Housing Developmemt by the Local Authority.
Shame if it goes ahead as Bicester Heritage want to preseve the Wartime buildings and run a very good programme of events.

My money is on Waddington – just down the road from Scampton isnt it? And the Reds are synonymous with Lincoln…?

Waddington is TOO busy. It’s an operational unit with plenty of activity. And NO space for further infrastructure. Leeming and Wittering are scarily close to the A1. I’ll look after your money Olly.

My money is on Waddington – just down the road from Scampton isnt it? And the Reds are synonymous with Lincoln…?

While I have nothing against Scampton itself I don’t think it’s the right place for a national museum.

I take a lot of foreign visitors to places they wouldn’t normally go to but Scampton isn’t on the list. It’s not the distance but the availability of good public transport links. I’m very keen to vist the Heritage Centre at Scampton but haven’t been able to because of the logistics of travelling to it by public transport. Hendon is limited by it’s size but to reach it all you need to do is go to central London then the Northern Line to Colindale and then walk or go by a frequent bus service to the Museum.

If you’re one of the majority of tourists then it’s a no brainer.

I’m not saying I like this situation but I don’t see it changing.

Wittering is a major training base..

Has there been much at Wittering since the Harriers left?

It’ll never be Waddington, airspace is too busy.

Potential sites for Reds identified as Wittering, Waddington or Leeming…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-47617062

If you think the taxiways over on HHAs side of the airfield are fit for purpose?

Tell me then why they have to tow their jets over to the same side the dead sparrows operate from….

Sure they spent a pitiful £6 million resurfacing the main runway in 2013. Its small change considering the £20 million rebuilding Waddingtons runway to flatten the hump

http://www.televisiontunes.com/Archers_(The).html

“remind us all why Scampton is a place of “national interest and importance”

You could say the same of Duxford, a brief cameo for another of your personal heroes; (Douglas Bader) and if it wasn’t for the movie stirring up interest ( sounds familiar) and bulldozing the M11 right through the site giving the place enviable access, who knows what might have happened to that particular redundant airfield.

But why do you need to understand someone else’s opinion? Are you saying that all others who revere RAF Scampton (the subject of this thread) are wrong? The airfields history is clear to see for anyone who makes the time to do so, from the first and second world wars through to a long association with the Cold War – both with Aircraft and with storage of nuclear weapons – plus not to mention a healthy association with the UK and arguably the worlds premier Airforce aerobatic team. I would argue that even some members of joe public will of heard of Scampton.

And as for discussing Scampton as a place of national interest and importance but not being able to mention “one small bombing raid” as you so dismissively put it – surely that’s abit like saying ‘without mentioning his voice why is Tom Jones such a well respected and highly regarded singer’!

Rob

Rob, It’s not that I am not comfortable with it, I just don’t understand it. Why Scampton and not Linton on Ouse?

Moggy

Thank you for your endorsement, Agent K, but time is not something I have in abundance. Instead of which I’ve drafted an email to the RAF museum stating my points and my argument for a potential move of the RAF museum to Scampton from Hendon. I will be interested in their reply.

As for those questioning why the airfield is as I suggested of national interest and importance at a time when our airfields including those of the Cold War period are disappearing fast, then please feel free to research the subject yourself and draw your own conclusions. Personally I’m comfortable with my original statement even if you are not!

Rob

If there was anything wrong with the runways or taxi paths they would not have the Red Arrows using them, or be housing an airshow there.

To back up my point about there being something big at Scampton here is what happened when they moved before; “23 C130 Hercules aircraft were required to airlift the Unit’s equipment and 166 personnel”

Indeed Meddle they do occasionally do intercept practices with Cobham Falcon 20s, oh and every now and then intercept the odd Russian who does probe UK aerospace.

As well as Random Airliners and other types that loose/forget to communicate with ATC etc.

As for the Reds sharing home with Typhoons, my point is No room at the inn old chap as I pointed out the other day.

And as for improvement change to Lincs Public transport, you have a better chance of being King (one reason why I quit the place in 1991….

More jobs in London 😉

Moggy

Precisely so.

AK

I have the motivation and energy and patience for most things but, not for anything that is currently under discussion. I made what I thought was a useful suggestion that might work provided that the figures and statistics are feasible. Think of a more complicated version of ‘crowdfunding’ and you’ll get the point. I have no axe to grind with respect to Scampton.

Many questions are asked and few answers seem to be genuinely practical. This one might also be a pipe dream and depends on what is exactly been “sold off” by the MOD.
It has already been mentioned the existing housing stock is privately owned. But…#

Hawker Hunter Aviation (HHA) is a sitting tenant who presumably have been happily making a profit out of their operation from RAF Scampton for many years. With the right business plan and future contracts in place what is there to say that the airfield operations, hangars, maintenance and storage activities can remain, indeed could they be expanded ? It has been said that the hangars, taxiways and runway are is poor condition, but that has not so far restricted their use. Buildings can be surveyed and those not required or past their safe use can be demolished, others given preservation status can be refurbished and used, for either aviation operations or (limited) heritage use. The active airfield site should be large enough to allow new buildings for non aviation / storage / industrial use, whilst still allowing a profit to be made from residential or retail development.
I really do not know any facts or figures but given the many pressures on general aviation could Scampton and its location become a new centre for private flying or flying schools ?
What ever happens I believe retaining active flying operations from Scampton to be the best way of retaining its heritage and importance as part of this countries social history.

Meddle

Do you seriously think they would stick The Reds into Coningsby given its current use? I assume you have some clue as to its importance nationally.

I don’t understand why the Typhoons and Reds can’t live in peaceful coexistence at Coningsby, but that is perhaps indicative of how little I care about modern military aviation. I gather that Typhoons take off from there once in a while to go menace a Tu-95 stooging up the North Sea, or to chase one of Cobham’s Falcons. Am I close? 😀

Perhaps some folk best research the subject before commiting (sic! :applause:) to the keyboard

Because it should be the top priority of everybody to study the frequency of public transport in Lincolnshire, right enough!

…fantasy and sentimentality underpin the historic aviation preservation and conservation industry…

A problem that will neatly solve itself in the next 10 – 20 years. :applause:

…Gibson’s office and Nigger’s grave preserved…

There it is! I was looking forward to at least three pages of titter titter, and you go and blow the bloody doors off. Jigger, Tigger, Ligger… what will they call the dog in the remake?!?!