MOD Disposal Of Aircraft

[VX927]

Morning all,

Can you please help? Im trying to compile a list of all aircraft that the MoD have disposed of in last few years? Im interested in knowing what the aircraft were, and how they were tendered for sale?

For examle, last year Wessex XV720 was sold to Air and Ground from Gossport. I didnt see that appear on any tender list, yet the dominie's were offered for open tender.

So, whats been got rid of recently (last 5 years ish) and was it offered for public tender?

Just so you know, I'm planning to use the information to ask a few questions / challenge the current disposal policy.

Many thanks

[pagen01]

This isn't a direct answer to your question, but an experience of mine,

About four years ago I got involved in purchasing an airframe from DSA (Disposals Services Authority who dispose of equipment for the MoD) they were also involved with the mass selling off of equipment on the same site and were visiting in relation to that, which meant I got to meet them and ask some questions to some high up staff (who were very nice) within the agency - this wasn't long after the mass disposal of Jaguars.
From the conversation, it soon became apparent that the idea of all airframes/equipment beaing available for anyone to bid on is a false one, they are entitled to discharge items directly to their preferred bidders, and indeed was the preferred route.

This can mean that an airframe may go to a preferred contractor, rather than sell for less money to say a museum, or for more money to a private individual. When pushed on rare items that may still be in the system and up for disposal, it was actually quoted to me that if a Merlin engine was sold, it could as likely go for scrap than be sold to an individual.
The given reason behind this is simplicity, one scenerio is that an aircraft is actually just part of a larger lot of other equipment, the one preferred bidder is trusted to put in a price for the lot, and turn up on site and remove the whole lot.
The same is true for single airframes, the DSA knows the preffered bidder will come on to a station with the minimum of fuss, remove the airframe and go, where as unknown Joe Bloggs (who might have bid more) may come on to site with a Mondeo and a trailer, seeking local assisstance with disassembly and removal, and possibly leaving a mess behind.

So in simple terms, some airframes may never become publicaly available through DSA (or Edisposals), but be offered directly to the preferred contractor.
The item may never get a chance to be offered to a museum, or indeed the highest bidder.
How the choice to dipose of directly, or by open tender is made is unclear to me.

This was four years ago, things might be different now, but from my observations things are the same.

[bravo24]

Funnily enough i just posted re this very subject in the Boscombe Phanton thread. I will not repeat it here but bring back the good days!!!!

[~Alan~]

There were 30 Army Gazelles up for disposal, but they seem to have been
removed from the MOD website. Perhaps they just sold very quickly

http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehi...licopters_.htm

[pagen01]

That's the Withams (one of the aforementioned preffered bidders) site, ie the company has already bought the items from MoD/DSA and is selling them on to the public.

[avion ancien]

http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehi...licopters_.htm

If you read the by-line to the company's name on the home page of that website - "The UK Sales and Marketing Agent For ALL Ministry of Defence Vehicles, Plant And Equipment" [the capitals are theirs, not mine] - it's difficult not to construe that as a claim to be the sole agent for the disposal of all MoD vehicles, i.e. that Witham Specialist Vehicles Ltd. have not bought the goods for onward sale but are selling them, presumably on a commision basis, for and on behalf of the MoD as its agent. Maybe someone who knows more about this can comment, indicating whether I have construed the claim correctly or whether the claim - that of agency - is merely a misrepresentation of the truth.

[pagen01]

They purchase all vehicles from MoD disposals and then sell them to anyone that wants to buy an ex military vehicle, be they individual or companies in the UK or abroad.
Its another thing that frustrates me, as there are lines of Land Rovers waiting for disposal on the MoD site where I work, yet I can't bid on, or buy one, I would need to buy it off Withams - with a heftier tag attached!

[DaveF68]

T
This can mean that an airframe may go to a preferred contractor, rather than sell for less money to say a museum, or for more money to a private individual.

Which explains why the choisest airframes in recent years have all ended up in East Anglia

[~Alan~]

When I looked at that site last week, the helicopters were individually listed as
well as giving their present locations. I was told that some of them may be
going to South Africa.

[bravo24]

With regard to the Gazelle helicopters its a shame Witham are short of engines! I wonder where they went, as if we might not guess!!

[Scott Marlee]

more than likely into storage and shawbury along with the rest of the airframes there, lynx,gazelle,seaking etc