Cast iron mock-up of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft (c. 14 metres in length) situated within a fenced circular compound. Made by Ray Theodore Welding in Newbury (at a cost of £15,000) and installed in August 1986.
The plane was installed at Greenham Common Air Force Base in 1986 and used for fire-fighting training by airfield fire crews and Newbury Fire Brigade. It was originally fitted with dummy seats and passengers prior to a training exercise and was linked with a pipeline allowing the fuselage to be sprayed with aviation fuel. It is one of only a few surviving example of military mock fire training aircraft from the Cold War period in the UK: examples have existed at RAF Mildenhall and Waddington and a mock-up of an F-15 Eagle exists that is still used for similar purposes at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. An example of a similar circular compound exists at RAF Alconbury, but no mock up aircraft is present. Each of these structures are of individual size and design, however – so the Greenham Fire Plane can be considered to be unique. The heritage asset is structurally sound, but rusted and exposed.
The Greenham Fire Plane is a unique surviving example of Cold War heritage and is representative of the important role of Greenham Common in internationally significant 20th century military history. It is unfortunately at risk from deterioration over time and vandalism, but local listing of this asset presents an opportunity to raise the profile of this important heritage asset.
The circular compound which the plane sits within is shown on the 1994 Masterplan of RAF Greenham, labelled ‘Fire-fighting exercise area’ (RAF Greenham Common Masterplan Sheet 5 of 7). The compound is included in the Local Listing description.
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