Argh the Abingdon rumour does keep re-surfacing as philo has stated but interesting to read or hear conflicting news.
When i worked at Abingdon in the last few years of RAF Ops & first 5 yars of Army reign, i do seem to recall the big “F” Hangar (you can’t miss it!) which once was used for Beverely, Belfast & latterly Jaguar major maintenance of talk that the Army wanted to build inspection pits inside but there was a claus which said ” no inspection pits were to be built inside as the hangar maybe used for future aircraft use”…
But being as my office was in “E” hangar (once used for Hawk major servicing), i clearly remember the whole hangar floor being ripped up & relaid with inspection pits in.
Its funny since the Army took over in late 92, many thought basically no more Aircraft will ever land there – but within 10 months the RAF staged Exercise Roaring Lion which saw up to 20 odd C130’s deployed to Abingdon for a few weeks.
Then Bensons 60sqn Wessex used the airfield regular for training
until 60sqn disbanded, in 94 or 95 the RAF 612VGS Motorglider school moved in with a new low hangar & offices in the SE corner flying the Grob Vigilants as they are today… & Bensons Puma force & Merlin HC3’s use it regular for training purposes so it hasn’t really been dormant.
The odd C130 have used it for Parachuting as have Skyvans, & the localised Army club will be using it in the future at times for Parachuting.
Oh nearly forgot the Armys Apache helis have started using it recently when needed!!
The Air Control Tower has sadly been vandalised & left to the elements which is a shame as up to 5 years ago it all worked fine as in Lights, Heating & Air Con!
The one thing that i personally think is needed is a localised Air Traffic Control due to the movements at times and with some kind of control back, it would keep those ****heads off the airfield who use it as a dog walking area / familys walking across active runways…. who disregard warning signs.
As someone else has told me, it will take somebody to be killed before action happens & i know of a few close shaves in the past!.
But at least it sees action regular unlike the likes of Upper Heyford!
And of course my annual Abingdon Fayre event!!!
😀 😀 😀
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