21st century .282000 .E2.80.93 present.29 RAF Lossiemouth

1 21st century (2000 – present)

1.1 f-35 lightning ii , threat of closure
1.2 potential use spaceport
1.3 raf lossiemouth mountain rescue team
1.4 tornado typhoon
1.5 end of search , rescue (sar) operations

21st century (2000 – present)

a sepecat jaguar t4 of no. 16(r) squadron landing @ lossiemouth.

to concentrate jaguar fleet in 1 place, no. 16(r) squadron eleven aircraft , around 100 personnel departed lossiemouth raf coltishall in norfolk in july 2000, bringing end lossiemouth s 27-year association jaguar. after arrival of no. 14 squadron , tornado gr1s raf brüggen in germany during january 2001, lossiemouth became busiest fast-jet station in raf. in may 2001, no. 51 squadron raf regiment re-established, join no. 2622 rauxaf squadron, under new no. 5 force protection wing headquarters.

f-35 lightning ii , threat of closure

the ministry of defence announced in november 2005 lossiemouth main operating base raf s new f-35 lightning ii fleet, expected enter service in 2013. strategic defence , security review, announced new government in may 2010, cast doubt on whether f-35 based @ lossiemouth , raised fears in local community station close, tornado squadrons moving raf marham in norfolk, engineering work aircraft based. on 7 november 2010 7,000 people took part in march , rally in lossiemouth in support of retaining raf station, including scotland s first minister alex salmond , other politicians. moray being area in scotland dependent on military spending, feared closure of raf lossiemouth , confirmed closure of nearby raf kinloss, lead economic uncertainty , more unemployment. petition more 30,000 signatures delivered 10 downing street campaign members on 11 january 2011.

after public campaign retain airfield, ministry of defence announced on 18 july 2011 lossiemouth , marham remain open lossiemouth s tornados moving marham. raf leuchars in fife close , transfer british army, eurofighter typhoon fgr4s , responsibility quick reaction alert (interceptor) north (qra) moving lossiemouth. later announced ministry of defence in march 2013 f-35 lighting ii based @ marham rather lossiemouth.

potential use spaceport

virgin galactic, commercial spaceflight company, announced in july 2006 interested in using lossiemouth spaceport, start flights in 2010. moray msp angus robertson , mp richard lochhead, lent support proposals , held talks scottish , uk governments promote concept. after two-year review of potential of commercial spaceflight in uk, uk space agency announced in july 2014 lossiemouth among 8 shortlisted sites throughout uk might accommodate spaceport. in march 2015, uk government ruled out lossiemouth nearby raf kinloss candidates, due opposition ministry of defence, cited over-riding operational factors. decision criticised local politicians.

raf lossiemouth mountain rescue team

with closure of nearby raf kinloss , transfer of station british army in july 2012, raf kinloss mountain rescue team (mrt) became raf lossiemouth mrt. team continued operate purpose built base @ kinloss barracks on 2 years, until moved d flight no. 202 squadron hangar in february 2015.

from tornado typhoon

a typhoon fgr4 in 6 squadron markings taking off runway 23.

after strategic defence , security review, no. 14 squadron disbanded on 1 june 2011, reducing number of tornados based @ lossiemouth. in 2012, new combined mess facilities, accommodation junior ranks , senior non-commission officers (snco) completed, replacing separate buildings constructed in 1960s, demolished. new facility opened station commander group captain ian gale , lord lieutenant of moray, grenville johnston.

following announcement in 2011 lossiemouth remain open, £17 million spent in 2013 refurbishing airfield arrival of typhoon, further £70 million set aside later. quick reaction alert (qra) facilities built in northern hardened aircraft shelter (has) complex , alterations made hangars 1 , 3 , new ground-support , communication systems. in march 2014, 3 typhoons raf leuchars arrived @ lossiemouth take part in exercise moray venture, week-long operation test new facilities ahead of aircraft s arrival later year.

in preparation phased transfer of typhoons lossiemouth , reduction in size of raf s tornado fleet, no.12 squadron , no.617 squadron disbanded on 1 april 2014. fly-past 4 tornados part of ceremony mark occasion , attended prince andrew, duke of york cancelled due bad weather. disbandment of 2 squadrons left xv(r) squadron remaining tornado unit @ lossiemouth.

the no. 2 (ac) squadron building , flight-line.

the first typhoon unit, no. 6 squadron, transferred raf leuchars lossiemouth on 20 june 2014. 9 aircraft arrived in formation in shape of number 6. no. 1 squadron followed on 8 september 2014, when responsibility quick reaction alert (north) transferred raf leuchars lossiemouth.

the third typhoon squadron based @ lossiemouth, no. 2 (ac) squadron, arrived in january 2015. work commenced in october 2014 refurbish southern has complex, formerly occupied no.617 squadron ready no. 2 (ac) squadron. 9 aircraft shelters refurbished, hard-standing flight-line capable of accommodating 8 aircraft built, new flood-lighting installed , dining facilities improved £23 million. new headquarters building constructed on site of world war ii era k-type hangar (k20) demolished in 2010. building had space engineering , logistics facilities, survival equipment section, classrooms , office space. work completed ahead of schedule in january 2016 , allowed no. 2 (ac) squadron operate independently other squadrons @ lossiemouth.

tornado gr4 za602 f macroberts reply of 15(r) squadron taxiing @ lossiemouth.

in may 2015, construction began on new 250 m × 16 m (273 yd × 17 yd) section of taxiway provide improved access between qra facilities in northern has site , runway 23/05. new taxiway constructed 53 field squadron, part of 39 (air support) engineer regiment, royal engineers, based @ nearby kinloss barracks. project completed in september 2015 new section named taxiway q .

in preparation withdrawal of tornado gr4 raf service in 2019, no. 15 (reserve) squadron disbanded on 31 march 2017. aircraft , crews absorbed front-line squadrons @ raf marham refresher training on tornado carried out. mark occasion, on 17 march 2017, 5 tornados squadron carried out flypast of former raf base @ leuchars, weapons range @ raf tain , aberdeen international airport, before performing simulated airfield strike on raf lossiemouth on front-of-base personnel, families , friends. disbandment parade held on 31 march 2017, signifying end of twenty-four years of tornado operations @ lossiemouth. on 750 current , former squadron personnel attended ceremony sands of kuwait , tune written commemorate 1991 gulf war (the squadron s last battle honour), played on bagpipes , tornado fly-past took place.

the final infrastructure required support typhoons completed in june 2017, when rolls-royce opened service delivery centre on 29 june 2017. centre, otherwise known typhoon propulsion support facility, operated combination of civilian , raf personnel , provides engineering support typhoon eurojet ej200 engines. constructed balfour beatty , cost £4.5m.

end of search , rescue (sar) operations

two d flight 202 squadron sea kings outside hangar @ lossiemouth.

in 2006, government announced intentions privatise raf search , rescue force (the search , rescue (sar) helicopter service). ten-year contract worth £1.6 billon signed in march 2013 bristow helicopters run service 2015 new agustawestland aw189 , sikorsky s-92 helicopters. sar helicopter operations in north-east of scotland ceased @ lossiemouth , moved inverness airport, located 30 mi (48 km) west. d flight of no. 202 squadron disbanded on 1 april 2015 , sea king har3s stored @ raf valley, anglesey, bringing 43 years of search , rescue operations @ lossiemouth end. sea kings had been familiar sight in skies above scotland, having been involved in piper alpha disaster, lockerbie bombing , appearing in local , national media.

a farewell party held d flight personnel thank local community support, cancelled raf officials. there widespread criticism of decision raf considered event contravene campaigning rules uk general election, perceived being political.

morayvia, local charity bought former lossiemouth sea king xz592 ministry of defence in march 2015. aircraft on display part of morayvia s science , technology experience project @ kinloss. sea king joined hawker siddeley nimrod mr2 xv244 charity had purchased.