RAF Machrihanish, Boscombe Down
Pete Hughes
In article <thomsonaD...@netcom.com>, Allen Thomson
<thom...@netcom.com> writes
>
> Perhaps some kind Aurorologist in the UK can help out an ignorant
>foreigner: where, precisely, are RAF Machrihanish and Boscombe Down?
>
> My maps show an airport between the towns of Machrihanish and East
>Darlochan, perhaps a little closer to the latter. Is this the famous
>RAF field?
>
It is indeed. Runway is 11/29. N55 26 W005 41.
> Boscombe the town is on the south coast, between Bournemouth
>and Christchurch, but the nearest airport seems to be the the
>Bournemouth/Hurn commercial field. Is RAF BD around there?
>
No! It is just north of Salisbury, Wiltshire, to the south of the A303
road. Runways are 06/24 and 17/35. N51 09 W001 45.
--
Pete
Allen Thomson
Perhaps some kind Aurorologist in the UK can help out an ignorant
foreigner: where, precisely, are RAF Machrihanish and Boscombe Down?
My maps show an airport between the towns of Machrihanish and East
Darlochan, perhaps a little closer to the latter. Is this the famous
RAF field?
Boscombe the town is on the south coast, between Bournemouth
and Christchurch, but the nearest airport seems to be the the
Bournemouth/Hurn commercial field. Is RAF BD around there?
It would really, really be nice to get the geographical
coordinates and runway orientations of the two RAF fields.
(I assume this information is unclassified in these days of
commercial satellite photography.)
TIA
Allen Thomson
In article <KHowEKAQ...@pjhughes.demon.co.uk> Pete Hughes <pe...@pjhughes.demon.co.uk> writes:
>In article <thomsonaD...@netcom.com>, Allen Thomson
><thom...@netcom.com> writes
>>
[snip]
>
>> Boscombe the town is on the south coast, between Bournemouth
>>and Christchurch, but the nearest airport seems to be the the
>>Bournemouth/Hurn commercial field. Is RAF BD around there?
>>
>No! It is just north of Salisbury, Wiltshire, to the south of the A303
>road. Runways are 06/24 and 17/35. N51 09 W001 45.
>
I think I've found it: about two miles due east of Porton? My
map, which was printed in the UK, doesn't show an airfield there but
does have "Danger Zone" in appropriately red letters.
Isn't there some sort of research establishment at Porton?
Frank A. Roos
Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Frank A. Roos (far...@cwi.nl)
Bill Parker
Allen Thomson wrote:
>
> In article <KHowEKAQ...@pjhughes.demon.co.uk> Pete Hughes <pe...@pjhughes.demon.co.uk> writes:
> >In article <thomsonaD...@netcom.com>, Allen Thomson
> ><thom...@netcom.com> writes
> >>
>
> [snip]
>
> >
> >> Boscombe the town is on the south coast, between Bournemouth
> >>and Christchurch, but the nearest airport seems to be the the
> >>Bournemouth/Hurn commercial field. Is RAF BD around there?
> >>
> >No! It is just north of Salisbury, Wiltshire, to the south of the A303
> >road. Runways are 06/24 and 17/35. N51 09 W001 45.
> >
>
> I think I've found it: about two miles due east of Porton? My
> map, which was printed in the UK, doesn't show an airfield there but
> does have "Danger Zone" in appropriately red letters.
>
> Isn't there some sort of research establishment at Porton?
It's more like west or north-west of Porton. But Boscombe is not an
uncommon name so there may be more in the area of Soton.
Porton has two establishments. The Chemical Defence Establishment
(supposedly investigating means of protection against chemical agents)
and what used to be the Microbiological Research Establishment (where I
used to work): Now a civilian Centre for Applied Microbiological
Research or some such. Civvy or not, because it's on MOD land you can't
get near it unless you're invited.
The Services NBC School (of Defence, presumably) (official name is
certainly different) is just down the road in Winterbourne Gunner, which
is where I used to live. If only because it's such a great name for a
village!
I tend to gallop by Boscombe qiote often on my way to Netheravon, an
Army Air Corps base which allows civilian sky-divers. Not that I get
much chance to do that nowadays.
Bill
--
Boggies are an unattractive but annoying people whose numbers have
decreased rather precipitously since the bottom fell out of the
fairy-tale market. Slow and sullen, and yet dull, they prefer to
live simple lives of pastoral squalor. Bored of the Rings.
Frank Wielbo
Macrihanish is at Lat 55 26 30N Long 05 41 55W
Boscombe Down is at Lat 51 09 38N Long 01 44 30W
Or at least they were in 1945 I assume tha continental drift does not afect
us too much .
If you Ordnance Survey references just mail me
FranK
if you want
--
Frank Wielbo
e-mail:-
Frank...@scotborders.co.uk
Frank....@scotent.co.uk
fr...@encata.org
http://www.scotborders.co.uk/sbe/
http://www.scotborders.co.uk/horizons
Allen Thomson
In article <DwyDJ...@cwi.nl> far...@cwi.nl (Frank A. Roos) writes:
>In article <thomsonaD...@netcom.com>, thom...@netcom.com (Allen Thomson) writes:
[snip]
>|> I think I've found it: about two miles due east of Porton? My
>|> map, which was printed in the UK, doesn't show an airfield there but
>|> does have "Danger Zone" in appropriately red letters.
>|>
>|> Isn't there some sort of research establishment at Porton?
>|>
>
>Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down.
Eek! That sounds like a Danger Zone in its own right.
Matt Clonfero
In message <DwyDJ...@cwi.nl> Frank A. Roos wrote:
> |> I think I've found it: about two miles due east of Porton? My
> |> map, which was printed in the UK, doesn't show an airfield there but
> |> does have "Danger Zone" in appropriately red letters.
It's a danger zone because experimental flying and test pilot training
take place at Boscombe - not where you want to be flying your cessna.
> |> Isn't there some sort of research establishment at Porton?
> Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down.
Now: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Porton Down, Protection and
Life Sciences Division. Basically all the names that meant something
(RSRE, RADRE, ARE, RAE, A&AEE etc) have gone away.
Aetherem Vincere
Matt.
--
===============================================================================
Matt Clonfero (ma...@aetherem.demon.co.uk) | To err is human,
My employer & I have a deal - they don't | To forgive is not Air Force Policy.
speak for me, and I don't speak for them. | -- Anon, ETPS
sfc
begin 644 boscombe.jpg
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
7X\I?]U/_`&6MZ>K7K_D<U;1/T_S/_]DJ
`
end
sfc
thom...@netcom.com (Allen Thomson) wrote:
> Perhaps some kind Aurorologist in the UK can help out an ignorant
>foreigner: where, precisely, are RAF Machrihanish and Boscombe Down?
> My maps show an airport between the towns of Machrihanish and East
>Darlochan, perhaps a little closer to the latter. Is this the famous
>RAF field?
> Boscombe the town is on the south coast, between Bournemouth
>and Christchurch, but the nearest airport seems to be the the
>Bournemouth/Hurn commercial field. Is RAF BD around there?
> It would really, really be nice to get the geographical
sfc
sfc
Steve Chatfield
Does Any body know the location of the nearest active RAF base to
watford, Not including Stanomore, or Northwood. All replys
appriciated. Moonh...@msn.com
Clive Turrell
between the towns of Andover and Salisbury and not place next to Bournmouth,
although nearby. I went to an excellent air show there a few years back. They do
some experimental stuff there, I think.
Cheers,
Clive.
Brian Elliott
thom...@netcom.com (Allen Thomson) wrote:
> Perhaps some kind Aurorologist in the UK can help out an ignorant
>foreigner: where, precisely, are RAF Machrihanish and Boscombe Down?
> My maps show an airport between the towns of Machrihanish and East
>Darlochan, perhaps a little closer to the latter. Is this the famous
>RAF field?
> Boscombe the town is on the south coast, between Bournemouth
>and Christchurch, but the nearest airport seems to be the the
>Bournemouth/Hurn commercial field. Is RAF BD around there?
> It would really, really be nice to get the geographical
>coordinates and runway orientations of the two RAF fields.
> (I assume this information is unclassified in these days of
>commercial satellite photography.)
> TIA
>
Machrihanish is on the Mull of Kintyre but the RAF base has now shut
down. It was significant as it used to be a US Navy Seals base....
Just looked at my road atlas and yes, it is the field next to East
Darlochar.
Boscombe Down is to the North of Salisbury near Amesbury. The field is
just south of (and visible from) the A303 dual carriageway.
brgds
Brian
Matt Clonfero
Marham? (For flying bases)
Northolt, Uxbridge, High Wycombe (active but non-flying)
100733.3247
sfc wrote:
>thom...@netcom.com (Allen Thomson) wrote:
No. Boscombe Down is not on the south coast. It is located about 7
miles north of Salisbury in Wiltshire. Approximate co-ordinates are 1
Degree 44 minutes West, 51 Degrees 10 minutes North. Boscombe Down
is the home of the Empire Test Pilots school which was moved there
from Farnborough some years ago and they fly some interesting vintage
aircraft - DC3s, Hawker Hunters, Buccaneers, etc.
Incidently the air show started at Farnborough yesterday (2nd Sept)
and we had a fly past by the B2, about 200 feet over my house!
RAF Machrihanish is a very remote RAF station in Scotland. I don't
have a map of the area to hand at the moment so I can't give you the
co-ordinates.
Sky TV is going to broadcast two 1-hour documentaries from satellite
later this month on Sky-One entitled Dreamland, concentrating on Area
51. (8pm UK time on 24th and 25th September). If there is anything
new there I shall post some infomation.
100733.3247
sfc wrote:
>thom...@netcom.com (Allen Thomson) wrote:
>> Perhaps some kind Aurorologist in the UK can help out an ignorant
>>foreigner: where, precisely, are RAF Machrihanish and Boscombe Down?
>> My maps show an airport between the towns of Machrihanish and East
>>Darlochan, perhaps a little closer to the latter. Is this the famous
>>RAF field?
>> Boscombe the town is on the south coast, between Bournemouth
>>and Christchurch, but the nearest airport seems to be the the
>>Bournemouth/Hurn commercial field. Is RAF BD around there?
>> It would really, really be nice to get the geographical
>>coordinates and runway orientations of the two RAF fields.
>> (I assume this information is unclassified in these days of
>>commercial satellite photography.)
>> TIA
>>
No, Boscombe Down is not on the south coast of England. It is located
about 7 miles noth of Salisbury in Wiltshire. Approximate
co-ordinates are 1 degree 44 west, 51 degrees 9 minutes North. It is
currently the home of the Empire Test Pilots school, which moved there
from Farnborough, where they fly such sophisticated aircraft as DC-3s,
2 seat Hawker Hunters with fly-by-wire controls that can be reversed
to simulate Sound Barrier effects, and Buccaneers, plus one or two
non-vintage aircraft.
The Farnborough air show started yesterday and included a visit by the
B2 which over-flew my house at about 300 feet.
RAF Machrihanish is a remote RAF station. I don't have a map to hand
to give you the co-ordinates. As I suspect you know this base may
have been used for refueling Aurora/Senior Citizen a few years ago.
For those who read this in the UK, Sky TV is going to broadcast two
1-hour documentaries entitled Dreamland about Area 51 at 8pm on 24th
and 25th September on the satellite channel Sky-One.
If anything new comes up I will keep you informed.
100733.3247
sfc wrote:
>thom...@netcom.com (Allen Thomson) wrote:
>> Perhaps some kind Aurorologist in the UK can help out an ignorant
>>foreigner: where, precisely, are RAF Machrihanish and Boscombe Down?
>> My maps show an airport between the towns of Machrihanish and East
>>Darlochan, perhaps a little closer to the latter. Is this the famous
>>RAF field?
>> Boscombe the town is on the south coast, between Bournemouth
>>and Christchurch, but the nearest airport seems to be the the
>>Bournemouth/Hurn commercial field. Is RAF BD around there?
>> It would really, really be nice to get the geographical
>>coordinates and runway orientations of the two RAF fields.
>> (I assume this information is unclassified in these days of
>>commercial satellite photography.)
>> TIA
>>
Boscombe Down is about 7 miles north of Salisbury. Approximate
co-ordinates 1 degree 44 west, 51 degrees 9 minutes north. It is
currently the home of the Empire Test Pilots school which moved there
from Farnborough.
The Farnborough air show opened yesterday and included a fly-past by
the B2 - at about 300 feet over my house.
Sky TV is going to broadcast two 1-hour documentaries entitled
Dreamland (about Area 51) at 8pm on the 24th and 25th September on the
satellite channel Sky-One.
I will post any new information that comes out.
Regards, Jim Findlay.
100733.3247 @ Compuserve
Matt Clonfero
In message <50idr7$n...@hil-news-svc-2.compuserve.com> James Findlay wrote:
> No, Boscombe Down is not on the south coast of England. It is located
> about 7 miles noth of Salisbury in Wiltshire. Approximate
> co-ordinates are 1 degree 44 west, 51 degrees 9 minutes North. It is
> currently the home of the Empire Test Pilots school, which moved there
> from Farnborough, where they fly such sophisticated aircraft as DC-3s,
> 2 seat Hawker Hunters with fly-by-wire controls that can be reversed
> to simulate Sound Barrier effects, and Buccaneers, plus one or two
> non-vintage aircraft.
Rubbish. The Aerospace & Armaments Evaluation Establishment was initially
formed at Martlesham Heath (in Suffolk) in 1924. In 1939, it was moved
to Boscome Down. Initially, they had to share the airfield with 88 and
218 Squadrons, flying the Fairey Battle aircraft. After these departed
for France, 58 Squadron operated from Boscombe Down for a brief spell,
and then Boscombe ceased operational flying, becoming entirely a test
and evaluation centre. The Test Pilot School formed at Boscombe Down
in 1943 to alleviate the shortage of test pilots. When the second
course started in 1944, the name was changed to Empire Test Pilot
School.
> RAF Machrihanish is a remote RAF station. I don't have a map to hand
> to give you the co-ordinates. As I suspect you know this base may
> have been used for refueling Aurora/Senior Citizen a few years ago.
> For those who read this in the UK, Sky TV is going to broadcast two
> 1-hour documentaries entitled Dreamland about Area 51 at 8pm on 24th
> and 25th September on the satellite channel Sky-One.
Look at a map of the UK. Look at the southernmost tip of the Western
Isles, at the closest point to Northern Ireland. That's where
RAF Machrihanish is.
Using Sky One as a source of information is a laughable prospect.
Alan Edwards
In <19960830....@aetherem.demon.co.uk> ma...@aetherem.demon.co.uk (Matt Clonfero) writes:
>In message <DwyDJ...@cwi.nl> Frank A. Roos wrote:
>> Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down.
>Now: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Porton Down, Protection and
>Life Sciences Division. Basically all the names that meant something
>(RSRE, RADRE, ARE, RAE, A&AEE etc) have gone away.
RAE = Royal Aircraft Establishment = Farnborough
A&AEE = Aircraft and Armaments Evaluation Establishment = Boscombe Down
Are these called something else now?
(What are the other three BTW? I don't recognise them)
Alan.
--
****************************************************************************
Push to test ... <CLICK> ... Release to detonate
****************************************************************************
Alan Edwards aedw...@tdc.dircon.co.uk
10025...@compuserve.com
PGP Key Available
Tex Bennett
Steve Chatfield wrote:
>
> Does Any body know the location of the nearest active RAF base to
> watford, Not including Stanomore, or Northwood. All replys
> appriciated. Moonh...@msn.com
If you mean Flying stations (in rough distance Order:
Northolt, Benson, Odiham, Brize Norton, Lyneham.
There is of course High Wycombe, but thats just an HQ.
Regards
Tex
===
--
Tex Bennett
BT Networks and Systems Tel: UK (01473) 605148
Home: T...@btinternet.com
Matt Clonfero
In message <50kqv2$3...@tdc.dircon.co.uk> Alan Edwards wrote:
All these have been subsumed by DERA - the Defence Evaluation and
Research Agency. It has four main components - DRA, the Defence
Research Agency; CDA, the Centre for Defence Analysis; DTEO, the
Defence Test & Evaluation Organisation; and PLSD - Protection and
Life Sciences Division.
> >(RSRE, RADRE, ARE, RAE, A&AEE etc) have gone away.
>
> RAE = Royal Aircraft Establishment = Farnborough
Now DERA Farnborough, with the DERA corporate HQ and elements of
DRA(Air), DRA(Weapons Systems), and CDA.
> A&AEE = Aircraft and Armaments Evaluation Establishment = Boscombe Down
DTEO Boscombe Down
> Are these called something else now?
>
> (What are the other three BTW? I don't recognise them)
ARE - Admiralty Research Establishment (A number of sites, such as
Portsdown, Slough, etc).
RSRE - Royal Signals & Radar Establishment, now DRA Malvern (Land)
RADRE - Royal Armaments Research & Development Establishment Chobham (as
in Chobham Armour) - Now DRA Chertsey.
S.J. Apthorpe (Steve)
From sja Fri Sep 6 10:12:31 1996
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Date: Fri, 6 Sep 96 10:12:31 CST
From: s...@ardu.dsto.gov.au (S.J. Apthorpe (Steve) Mr AERO1C 32856)
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Your article/letter follows:
>Boscombe Down is to the North of Salisbury near Amesbury. The field is
>just south of (and visible from) the A303 dual carriageway.
Was a bit late picking up on this thread, hope this is not too late.
|
\ | |<- 15 miles to Andover ->
Stonehenge * \ <- 1 mile -> | | A303
=============================( )===========]| [============= {Big hill that
| | overlooks airfield}
|<- 1 mile -> |
Amesbury ---------|
| | A&AEE Boscombe Down
| |
|-------------|
|
|
^
|
(8 miles)
|
V
Salisbury
You can now see why any talk of "Black" projects secretly flying out of
Boscombe as laughable. I refered to "Boscombe" as A&AEE because that is
as I remember it, I understand it has a new name now, either way it was
never ever refered to as RAF Boscombe Down, if you don't believe me read
the sign posts! I was born and raised their, and spent many hours looking
at the airfield from a number of vantage points around the
perimeter fence.
The most unusual sight I ever saw was an Ex-Argentinian[SP?] Pucara in the
summer of 1982.
Steve Apthorpe
Aircraft Research & Development Unit (ARDU)
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
M Haylett
ma...@aetherem.demon.co.uk (Matt Clonfero) wrote:
>> Does Any body know the location of the nearest active RAF base to
>> watford, Not including Stanomore, or Northwood. All replys
>Marham? (For flying bases)
>Northolt, Uxbridge, High Wycombe (active but non-flying)
MARHAM!!? I know the Services have shrunk a bit since I left but not
that much, surely? - or is your geography slightly off? :)
Kevin Minett
On 14-Sep-96 12:45:43, M Haylett said about Re: British fighter plane bases.:
> ma...@aetherem.demon.co.uk (Matt Clonfero) wrote:
>>> Does Any body know the location of the nearest active RAF base to
>>> watford, Not including Stanomore, or Northwood. All replys
>>Marham? (For flying bases)
>>Northolt, Uxbridge, High Wycombe (active but non-flying)
> MARHAM!!? I know the Services have shrunk a bit since I left but not
^^^^^^ yep,since honnington closed....
> that much, surely? - or is your geography slightly off? :)
depends, if you mean fighter/bomber bases, MARHAM is about right,nice place
too.
nearest active base could be stanmore or brize norton,
--
<tsb>kev
<tsb>Email k...@nuthutch.demon.co.uk
--
Carl Martin Strømme
Hello!
The Brittish airfields are to small to be divided in combat regions.
As I know it, the most superior fighter sq's are based in central UK.
A lot of the British off's have been training with RNoAF.
We know them, and whishes them welcome if we need to fight against a
common enemy!
CM
Carl Martin Strømme
Carl Martin Strømme
agains...@iohk.com (M Haylett ) wrote:
>ma...@aetherem.demon.co.uk (Matt Clonfero) wrote:
>
>
>>> Does Any body know the location of the nearest active RAF base to
>>> watford, Not including Stanomore, or Northwood. All replys
>
>>Marham? (For flying bases)
>>Northolt, Uxbridge, High Wycombe (active but non-flying)
>
>MARHAM!!? I know the Services have shrunk a bit since I left but not
>that much, surely? - or is your geography slightly off? :)
>
a
common enemy!
CM
Matt Clonfero
In message <51e9eb$7...@ibridge.iohk.com> M Haylett wrote:
> >> Does Any body know the location of the nearest active RAF base to
> >> watford, Not including Stanomore, or Northwood. All replys
>
> >Marham? (For flying bases)
> >Northolt, Uxbridge, High Wycombe (active but non-flying)
>
> MARHAM!!? I know the Services have shrunk a bit since I left but not
> that much, surely? - or is your geography slightly off? :)
Well, looking at the unclassified RAF Dispositions for 1996 (Correct
1 April 1996), RAF Marham is about the closest station that is flying
tactical aircraft.
RAF Odiham (Helicopters); RAF Brize Norton (Transports/Tankers) are closer,
but I was assuming that the man wanted tactical jets.
M Haylett
ma...@aetherem.demon.co.uk (Matt Clonfero) wrote:
>In message <51e9eb$7...@ibridge.iohk.com> M Haylett wrote:
>> >> Does Any body know the location of the nearest active RAF base to
>> >> watford, Not including Stanomore, or Northwood. All replys
>Well, looking at the unclassified RAF Dispositions for 1996 (Correct
>1 April 1996), RAF Marham is about the closest station that is flying
>tactical aircraft.
>RAF Odiham (Helicopters); RAF Brize Norton (Transports/Tankers) are closer,
>but I was assuming that the man wanted tactical jets.
Also Lyneham in the West Country. How about Cottesmore and Wittering
(about the same as Marham) northwards, Honnington to the NE or even
Coltishall (again about the same as Marham) if he doesn't want to see
'heavies'.
As I said, shrinkage might have affected one or two of those but I
know Cottesmore and Coltishall are still active.
Mike Stannard
mi...@iohk.com (M Haylett ) wrote:
>Also Lyneham in the West Country. How about Cottesmore and Wittering
>(about the same as Marham) northwards, Honnington to the NE or even
>Coltishall (again about the same as Marham) if he doesn't want to see
>'heavies'.
>As I said, shrinkage might have affected one or two of those but I
>know Cottesmore and Coltishall are still active.
Forget Honington for the time being. Last time I was out that way, it
had RAF Regiment types running all over it. The airfield facilities
are still there (the 48th Wing from Lakenheath detatched there a year
or so back when their runway was up), but there's nothing using it of
interest here.
There's been various wild rumours circulating for the last couple of
years as to what the RAF's going to do with all those Tornadoes when
the Germans kick 'em out and this base has been mentioned, along with
a few others.
Matt Clonfero
In message <3252e...@news.flexnet.net> Mike Stannard wrote:
> >Also Lyneham in the West Country. How about Cottesmore and Wittering
> >(about the same as Marham) northwards, Honnington to the NE or even
> >Coltishall (again about the same as Marham) if he doesn't want to see
> >'heavies'.
Lynham: Hercules C.1 / C.1K / C.3
Cottesmore: Tornado Trinational Training Establishment (16 Tornado GR.1)
Wittering: 1 Sqn (16 Harrier GR.7)
Honnington: RAF Regiment depot; RAF Survive to Operate Centre; Surface
to Air Weapons OEU.
Coltishall: 6 Sqn and 54 Sqn (26 Jaguar GR.1A)
Coltishall is as far NE you can go into East Anglia without falling off
into the North Sea. Wittering is probably about the same distance as
Marham - further North, but less East. Cottesmore is near Marham, but
further away from the start point (Watford?)