Duxford would need significant infrastructure work for Marshalls. At least 1500ft would need to be added to the runway to make it comparable to Cambridge's (ideally longer if Marshalls want to service/modify bigger platforms), there's no formal ATC provision nor runway approach lighting and no Instrument Approach Aids and procedures - all mandatory for operating certain classes of aircraft depending on insurance requirements. All of these, added to the new facilities north of the A505, plus the potential to need to "beef up" the PCN of some other taxiways, will cost a small fortune to implement. Plus, a lot of Marshalls' work is "camera shy" so having their customers aircraft paraded in front of hundreds of daily visitors is likely not ideal. Duxford is a smokescreen, as is Wyton (due to planned redevelopment). As for other options, Scampton is knackered and too far north, Alconbury too far gone, Thurleigh a race track, Sculthorpe too far/too bare, Mildenhall possibly to stay open longer than planned and Honington is no longer active (and would need significant re-investment) and is full of Rockapes. Cranfield has a long enough runway, a recently digitised tower, an ambitious expansion plan (including an Air Park) and is investing in a number of runway and approach aid improvements. To me it's the best option….
One thing that seems to have been missed here is.... that being the curse of all surplus USAF bases.
They are (usually) fitted out to US 110 volt, and other systems are to US standards.
£££££££pit.
Yep, which is why the 'hall isn't an option for Marshall's, plus the shear bloody size of the place means a awful lot of maintenance for a small outfit like Marshalls.
With rumours that the housing project at Wyton has been canned due to local roads not being able to cope with traffic increase, Wyton would make more sense, and wouldn't too far away from workforce point of view. However, runway is in need of resurfacing by all accounts, and hangars have massively deteriorated, so again, substantial costs would be involved.
Hangars at Wyton will be of little use to Marshalls, too small and too old.
New hangars, offices and associated ramps will be required, preferable well away from the existing and well used RAF buildings, some of which IIRC were built over the western end of the taxiway.
For those that do not know Wyton is home to one of UK's main intelligence hubs and as such is a very secure site and is unlikely to be considered available.
Mildenhall, despite its issues, offers a great deal for Marshall's. Location, unlimited expansion, existing facilities and happy neighbours.
Hangars at Wyton will be of little use to Marshalls, too small and too old.
New hangars, offices and associated ramps will be required, preferable well away from the existing and well used RAF buildings, some of which IIRC were built over the western end of the taxiway.
For those that do not know Wyton is home to one of UK's main intelligence hubs and as such is a very secure site and is unlikely to be considered available.
You've got the large area on the northside that could be built on and developed, where the Air Ambulance operates from, which also already has a seperate access entrance from the A141.
This would be the logical place for Marshall at Wyton, and wouldn't interfere with current southside RAF use, including the secret squirrel ops there in the new building complex.
None military activities at MoD St Athan, don't seem to affect what still
goes on (supposedly). Or has the MoD finally abandoned the place????
MOD not abandoned the place, but the less than 20 year old maintenance super-hanger built there to service fast jets at huge cost to the taxpayer, is now being incorporated into the new Aston-Martin car factory being built on the site.
But wouldn't it cost a fortune to bring any of these alternative sites up to there required spec, plus the costs of moving and disruption to there present staff and also losing key staff.
Not that people count when money is to be made.
I of course have no idea of the cost of one against the other.
By: TwinOtter23
- 20th May 2019 at 20:52Permalink- Edited 20th May 2019 at 20:52
The rationale is explained in the weblink to the Cambridge newspaper article in the opening post of the thread and the aerial view of the site in the same article shows the close proximity of the exisiting local housing etc.
Remember the grand plans in the mid 90s to relocate the Harriers from Cottesmore and Wittering to Bentwaters/Woodbridge.... Well I pointed out the reason why it never happened last week
New
By: Anonymous
- 24th May 2019 at 21:57Permalink- Edited 30th November 2019 at 21:48
With regards Wyton, what about the radiation at and around the nuclear wash ramp? I'll bet that would take some clearing up!
The 543 Victors, 51 Canberras and sometimes the 39 Canberras were all washed there.
Looking at Google Earth it shows no sign of clear up.
Many good men ended up with cancer washing the radiation off these aircraft and the MoD still deny them help.
I'll bet that no civilian operator would want to go there with that lot still around.
Posts: 597
By: Binbrook 01 - 16th May 2019 at 06:24 Permalink
One thing that seems to have been missed here is.... that being the curse of all surplus USAF bases.
They are (usually) fitted out to US 110 volt, and other systems are to US standards.
£££££££pit.
Posts: 1,011
By: DragonRapide - 16th May 2019 at 08:01 Permalink
Good Lord Binbrook01! I had no idea that was the case. Interesting.
Posts: 189
By: Evalu8ter - 16th May 2019 at 11:27 Permalink
Duxford would need significant infrastructure work for Marshalls. At least 1500ft would need to be added to the runway to make it comparable to Cambridge's (ideally longer if Marshalls want to service/modify bigger platforms), there's no formal ATC provision nor runway approach lighting and no Instrument Approach Aids and procedures - all mandatory for operating certain classes of aircraft depending on insurance requirements. All of these, added to the new facilities north of the A505, plus the potential to need to "beef up" the PCN of some other taxiways, will cost a small fortune to implement. Plus, a lot of Marshalls' work is "camera shy" so having their customers aircraft paraded in front of hundreds of daily visitors is likely not ideal. Duxford is a smokescreen, as is Wyton (due to planned redevelopment). As for other options, Scampton is knackered and too far north, Alconbury too far gone, Thurleigh a race track, Sculthorpe too far/too bare, Mildenhall possibly to stay open longer than planned and Honington is no longer active (and would need significant re-investment) and is full of Rockapes. Cranfield has a long enough runway, a recently digitised tower, an ambitious expansion plan (including an Air Park) and is investing in a number of runway and approach aid improvements. To me it's the best option….
Posts: 2,108
By: Firebird - 16th May 2019 at 11:31 Permalink
Yep, which is why the 'hall isn't an option for Marshall's, plus the shear bloody size of the place means a awful lot of maintenance for a small outfit like Marshalls.
With rumours that the housing project at Wyton has been canned due to local roads not being able to cope with traffic increase, Wyton would make more sense, and wouldn't too far away from workforce point of view. However, runway is in need of resurfacing by all accounts, and hangars have massively deteriorated, so again, substantial costs would be involved.
Posts: 674
By: CADman - 16th May 2019 at 15:35 Permalink
Hangars at Wyton will be of little use to Marshalls, too small and too old.
New hangars, offices and associated ramps will be required, preferable well away from the existing and well used RAF buildings, some of which IIRC were built over the western end of the taxiway.
For those that do not know Wyton is home to one of UK's main intelligence hubs and as such is a very secure site and is unlikely to be considered available.
Mildenhall, despite its issues, offers a great deal for Marshall's. Location, unlimited expansion, existing facilities and happy neighbours.
Posts: 2,108
By: Firebird - 16th May 2019 at 16:03 Permalink
You've got the large area on the northside that could be built on and developed, where the Air Ambulance operates from, which also already has a seperate access entrance from the A141.
This would be the logical place for Marshall at Wyton, and wouldn't interfere with current southside RAF use, including the secret squirrel ops there in the new building complex.
Posts: 597
By: Binbrook 01 - 18th May 2019 at 19:09 Permalink - Edited 18th May 2019 at 19:10
None military activities at MoD St Athan, don't seem to affect what still
goes on (supposedly). Or has the MoD finally abandoned the place????
Posts: 2,108
By: Firebird - 19th May 2019 at 20:18 Permalink
MOD not abandoned the place, but the less than 20 year old maintenance super-hanger built there to service fast jets at huge cost to the taxpayer, is now being incorporated into the new Aston-Martin car factory being built on the site.
Posts: 211
By: Elmdon Boy - 19th May 2019 at 22:31 Permalink
Am I missing something here, but why don't they just stay where they are.
Posts: 7,742
By: TwinOtter23 - 19th May 2019 at 23:06 Permalink
More money to be made by releasing the land for housing at Cambridge.
Posts: 211
By: Elmdon Boy - 20th May 2019 at 19:25 Permalink
But wouldn't it cost a fortune to bring any of these alternative sites up to there required spec, plus the costs of moving and disruption to there present staff and also losing key staff.
Not that people count when money is to be made.
I of course have no idea of the cost of one against the other.
Posts: 7,742
By: TwinOtter23 - 20th May 2019 at 20:52 Permalink - Edited 20th May 2019 at 20:52
The rationale is explained in the weblink to the Cambridge newspaper article in the opening post of the thread and the aerial view of the site in the same article shows the close proximity of the exisiting local housing etc.
Posts: 3,652
By: 1batfastard - 24th May 2019 at 18:35 Permalink
Hi All,
What about reactivating Woodbridge/Bentwaters ?
Geoff.
Posts: 597
By: Binbrook 01 - 24th May 2019 at 21:14 Permalink
Remember the grand plans in the mid 90s to relocate the Harriers from Cottesmore and Wittering to Bentwaters/Woodbridge.... Well I pointed out the reason why it never happened last week
By: Anonymous - 24th May 2019 at 21:57 Permalink - Edited 30th November 2019 at 21:48
With regards Wyton, what about the radiation at and around the nuclear wash ramp? I'll bet that would take some clearing up!
The 543 Victors, 51 Canberras and sometimes the 39 Canberras were all washed there.
Looking at Google Earth it shows no sign of clear up.
Many good men ended up with cancer washing the radiation off these aircraft and the MoD still deny them help.
I'll bet that no civilian operator would want to go there with that lot still around.