The OCU would stay in Lossiemouth since the Tornado simulator and training is in there and it would make no sense to transfer them all)

617° Squadron
2° Squadron
13° Squadron
12° Squadron
31° Squadron

[for what i understood is the 9° and 14° Squadrons that will be closed down, either way for sure 2 Squadrons. The 617° will relocate to Marham.]

The F35C in the long term could have 14 airplanes in a large, common OCU/OEU managed by the RAF but used by the Navy as well. And ideally, in a smart, ideal world, there would be 4/5 Squadrons of 12 machines each.
If 4, two RAF (617° and 13° my suggestion, i want the Dambusters to live on!) and two Navy (800 and 801 NAS). If five, ideally i’d want a third RN unit (thus ensuring a full 36-strong airwing for QE), and it would be the 892 NAS that once flew Phantom from HMS Ark Royal IV. That would be an endless amount of awesome. 809 and 899 (ex-Sea Harrier units) could also be obvious candidate for resurrection. I’d love that.

As it stands, however, there’s the risk that the sole 800 NAS will survive, and providing only crews, besides. The F35C risks being a “RAF only” toy, with very awful risk of seeing them horribly rarely on the deck of the carriers they should equip.
Hope the Royal Navy fights hard and gets its own in the coming years. Hopefully, the SDSR 2015 will give us clue.

The admirals will better bash hard on the point that we are buying the things for the carriers, goddamnit.

It would be nice to see 800 returning to Lossie after a break of around 50 years. I like the idea! Anybody hope to see F35c’s (like the Buccaneers below at Lossie) in Navy livery with a carrier tail code?

I work at AWE Aldermaston. I was told Eagle Airways were based here at one time after the war before the Atomic people took over the old airfield in the ’50s, anyone got any info on this?

That is one cute sleeper Muscle Manta… me likes that. What has she got under the bonnet? 😎

4.6 ltr Rover V8 fed from Edelbrock 4 barrel carb.

I agree with the point raised. People are charged entry at Abingdon to see the aircraft display and the majority of people attending will also be intrested in the classic car display.

It does seem unfair to charge classic owners to display their cars when they contribute to the show attractions.

Photo below of my 1972 Opel Manta with modifications -V8 engine up-rated drivetrain/brakes

Ollie: I think the pics of ‘631’ in the MARTSU move are of XN929 en-route to Honington approx 1970 for use as a ground instructional airframe. By approx 1972 its cockpit was cut off and taken to 237 OCU Ground School for use as a cockpit trainer. The later ‘631’ being craned onto the Bark Royal was another aircraft (forget the serial just now).

Your Dit – one of our aircraft is missing – is correct. I was at Honington at the time (approx ’72) and when 809 disembarked they had one less aircraft than what they started with. I think the one which went over the side was XT269 but don’t quote me.

Must say that this thread has thrown up some spectaular photos the like of which I have not seen before. Has anyone got any pics of XV333 (or was it 332?) when it had the 1,000-pounder dropped into its cockpit?

It must have been XV332 whats the story behind this?? did the A/C survive?? As for XV333 it’s in the Fleet air arm museum carrier exhibit in 801 squadron markings. I would have thought they would have removed the bomb door tank before displaying her in her early naval colours I think it looks so wrong! I was one of the plane captains on this A/C in 1976 when she was coded 030 on 809 squadron on board Ark Royal:) happy days.