• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Newquay Airport and Air Force One

Status
Not open for further replies.

2192

Member
Joined
16 Aug 2020
Messages
372
Location
Derby UK
President Joe Biden is coming to Cornwall for the Climate Sumit later this year. Is Newquay Airport big enough to take Air Force One?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

83G/84D

Established Member
Joined
28 Oct 2011
Messages
5,952
Location
Cornwall
The runway is long enough and the airport has funding for improvements in connection with the G7, although when this was announced details of what the funding was for was rather vague.
 

swt_passenger

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Apr 2010
Messages
31,267
I suppose as RAF St Mawgan it was usable by fairly heavy jets, were ASW Nimrods and similar sizes of aircraft based there in the 80s/90s?
 
Last edited:

83G/84D

Established Member
Joined
28 Oct 2011
Messages
5,952
Location
Cornwall
Nimrod's and before that Shakletons were based, plus Canberra's & regular exercises over the years. Most types could operate from there and I think Concorde landed on one Air Day.

USAF C-5's and civilian Antonov 124's have also visited on helicopter (Sea King) transfers to/from the Falklands.

The thing I don't know is the maximum landing or take off weight for the runway.

Back in the last year or two of the RAF presence there was talk of runway and taxiway work but it never happened, possibly due to the dwindling military use and the fact only helicopters were then based. Part of the southern taxiway was closed, not sure if it still is.
 
Last edited:
Joined
9 Jul 2011
Messages
777
B747’s have landed there before, usually training flights.
There's an ex-BA 747 there being dismantled and scrapped.
I have a vague recollection that a precautionary emergency landing was made there by a transatlantic 747 overflight. That was many many years ago.
I’m not actually sure which airline but it might have been KLM.

Back in the RAF days' their VC10's and Tristars were frequent visitors and sometimes used St. Mawgan for crew training.
Apart from being a normal airbase, until the 1990’s, RAF St. Mawgan was one of the RAF’s 7 or 8. “Master Diversion Airfields”.
These were selected, larger air bases, distributed around the U.K.
Meaning it was available 24/7 for any military aircraft in an emergency, or with an in-flight problem that required a precautionary landing. As such, it was able to accept the largest aircraft flying at the time (C5 Galaxy).

The facility would normally be afforded to civil aircraft in an emergency.
(anyone remember the foam carpet they could lay down on the runway at RAF Manston? )

Newquay still has a fairly long and wide runway, with adequate parking apron space.
The limitation would be ground handling equipment, suitable aircraft stairs etc.
Joe Biden will probably need a Stannah Stairlift, judging by his recent experiences of aircraft steps.

.
 
Last edited:
Joined
9 Jul 2011
Messages
777
Could it land at Culdrose?

Not the B747.
The runway isn’t long or wide enough and the pavement loading wouldn’t support it.
Also there’s insufficient fire cover and limited, or no ground handling facilities.

The B757 might be possible (but I’m not sure about this).
Note Trump flew out of Southampton airport on Air Force One, a B757, after the D-Day 75th anniversary ceremony in Portsmouth in 2019.

Although mostly being a helicopter base, fixed wing flying still takes place at Culdrose.
The Navy operates a training version of the twin engine Beechcraft King Air 350, (Avenger T1) from there.

.
 
Last edited:

Western Lord

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
782
Not the B747.
The runway isn’t long or wide enough and the pavement loading wouldn’t support it.
Also there’s insufficient fire cover and limited, or no ground handling facilities.

The B757 might be possible (but I’m not sure about this).
Note Trump flew out of Southampton airport on Air Force One, a B757, after the D-Day 75th anniversary ceremony in Portsmouth in 2019.

Although mostly being a helicopter base, fixed wing flying still takes place at Culdrose.
The Navy operates a training version of the twin engine Beechcraft King Air 350, (Avenger T1) from there.

.
As evidenced by the recent unfortunate accident, Hawk jets still operate from Culdrose. The largest aircraft to land there must have been the BA Airbus A319 carrying the Olympic torch in 2012.
Newquay would have no problem handling the VC-25A "Air Force One" 747 (or the other big nob jets). One presumes that Boris won't be flying in from Brize Norton in the RAF Union Jack Voyager!
 

rower40

Member
Joined
1 Jan 2008
Messages
330
Then a GW pannier and auto-coach to take the prez from Newquay to Carbis Bay. Reversals at Par and St Erth.
 

Meglos

Member
Joined
19 Dec 2020
Messages
132
Location
london
I would suggest Air Force One is more likely to land at RAF Fairford (USAF Base - Gloucestershire), and then by Marine One (US Marine Corp VH3 or VH60 helicopter).

When Barrack Obama came over for the 2014 Summit at Celtic Manor (Newport), this was the operational choice used, rather than using Cardiff Airport.
 

Snow1964

Established Member
Joined
7 Oct 2019
Messages
6,025
Location
West Wiltshire
I think the runway is 9000 feet x 285 feet, more than big enough to land a big jet (and airforce one is still the older 747, not the 747-800 derived special that has been ordered), actually there are two, but only one with President gets the airforce one designation.

However I suspect the runway length limits the fuel load on take off, but no idea what range would be flying from Newquay
 

Ianno87

Veteran Member
Joined
3 May 2015
Messages
15,215
I think the runway is 9000 feet x 285 feet, more than big enough to land a big jet (and airforce one is still the older 747, not the 747-800 derived special that has been ordered), actually there are two, but only one with President gets the airforce one designation.

However I suspect the runway length limits the fuel load on take off, but no idea what range would be flying from Newquay

AF1 can be refuelled mid-air. Or you'd just fuel stop at Shannon or somewhere.
 

Western Lord

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
782
AF1 can be refuelled mid-air. Or you'd just fuel stop at Shannon or somewhere.
While the Presidential 747s do have in flight refuelling receptacles, In flight refuelling is never used with the President on board (too dangerous) and I doubt that it has ever been used other than on test flights.
 

zwk500

Veteran Member
Joined
20 Jan 2020
Messages
13,227
Location
Bristol
AF1 can be refuelled mid-air. Or you'd just fuel stop at Shannon or somewhere.
If they couldn't take off with the fuel load from Newquay surely they'd just park AF1 at Stansted and use Marine 1 to Cornwall? After all, I'd be surprised if the US President flew all the way to the UK and didn't visit London at all. Anybody know what AF1 did when Obama visited for the summit in Cardiff?
 

Ploughman

Established Member
Joined
15 Jan 2010
Messages
2,882
Location
Near where the 3 ridings meet
I think the runway is 9000 feet x 285 feet, more than big enough to land a big jet (and airforce one is still the older 747, not the 747-800 derived special that has been ordered), actually there are two, but only one with President gets the airforce one designation.

However I suspect the runway length limits the fuel load on take off, but no idea what range would be flying from Newquay
I was under the impression that any fixed wing plane with the president on board automatically assumed the designation of Air Force One.
No matter what its normal status was.

Similarly for Marine One as long as it is a Marine Corps Helicopter.
 

zwk500

Veteran Member
Joined
20 Jan 2020
Messages
13,227
Location
Bristol
I was under the impression that any fixed wing plane with the president on board automatically assumed the designation of Air Force One.
No matter what its normal status was.

Similarly for Marine One as long as it is a Marine Corps Helicopter.
Not quite - any Air Force aircraft (fixed-wing or Rotary) carrying the President is Air Force One. Any aircraft operated by any other branch of the US Military (who consider the Marines an independent service) carries the name of that service plus 'One'. There's also Executive One for a commercial flight carrying the President.
 

Western Lord

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
782
If they couldn't take off with the fuel load from Newquay surely they'd just park AF1 at Stansted and use Marine 1 to Cornwall? After all, I'd be surprised if the US President flew all the way to the UK and didn't visit London at all. Anybody know what AF1 did when Obama visited for the summit in Cardiff?
I can't imagine that Biden will relish travelling from Stansted to Cornwall in a noisy vibrating helicopter. There is absolutely no problem with AF1 using Newquay, either inbound or outbound. 9,000 feet is plenty for a lightly loaded 747 (it is not carrying 350 passengers and their baggage plus freight). Whether other considerations will apply I have no idea.
 

Meglos

Member
Joined
19 Dec 2020
Messages
132
Location
london
As I mentioned in Post #11, RAF Fairford is likely to be the location of AF1, the same location they used when the summit was held in Newport (CelticManor).
 

Western Lord

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
782
As I mentioned in Post #11, RAF Fairford is likely to be the location of AF1, the same location they used when the summit was held in Newport (CelticManor).
However, Fairford to Carbis Bay is still a long time to spend in a helicopter.
 

GilesDWRC

New Member
Joined
31 May 2021
Messages
1
Location
Plymouth
Currently staying at a glamping site near short final for Newquay airport. the roads are ready for closing, security check points are going in soon and a C5 took off this morning… I’d say it’s a probable destination…
 

Western Lord

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
782
According to today's Times, AF1 is landing at Mildenhall and Biden will continue to Cornwall on a Osprey. I suppose that there is a reason for this but 300 odd miles in a Osprey is 299 more than I would want to do.
 

Ediswan

Established Member
Joined
15 Nov 2012
Messages
2,842
Location
Stevenage
According to today's Times, AF1 is landing at Mildenhall and Biden will continue to Cornwall on a Osprey. I suppose that there is a reason for this but 300 odd miles in a Osprey is 299 more than I would want to do.
BBC has a slightly different version. That the Ospreys would be escorting Marine One. It would be a bit odd to bring the Sikorsky VH-3D, then not use it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57398637
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top