§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the main works undertaken at RAF Leeming to enable the deployment of Tornado aircraft to take place there; and whether they included any extension to the main runway.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe main works undertaken at RAF Leeming were associated with the upgrading of the station's utilities, the enhancement of technical accommodation, married quarter developments and the construction of airfield survival measures, which included hardened aircraft shelters and command and control centres. The runway was resurfaced and re-profiled, but no extension work was undertaken.
§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the main uses of Royal Air Force Leeming in the 10 years prior to the deployment of Tornado aircraft there; and what were the principal types of aircraft that were based there or used at the air station regularly during that period.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonTornado aircraft were deployed to RAF Leeming in 1988. From 1978 until 1984 RAF Leeming's main role was as a flying training station operating Bulldog and Jet Provost aircraft. Jetstream aircraft operated there between 1978 and 1979. Throughout the period an air experience flight of Chipmunk aircraft and a university air squadron of Bulldogs also operated from the station—and continue to do so—except for a break during 1987 and 1988 while the runway was being rebuilt.