RAF Coningsby Remote Weapons Store April 2019 & 2020

[FunkyMuffin]

History:

(borrowed of course)

RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire is one of two RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Stations which protect UK airspace and is home to two frontline, combat-ready squadrons. It is also the training station for Typhoon pilots. Although a live site, the derelict weapons store lies just to the north-east. The facility was built for the purpose of storing and preparing weapons including missiles and bombs, situated in a separate compound in order to reduce the quantity of explosives stored within the base. An incident occurred in 1971 when an electrostatic discharge caused a SNEB rocket that was being prepared to initiate its rocket motor. Two armourers were killed in the incident.


The Explore:

I’ve been here twice, both with fellow explorers and non members. I was sad to see so much had been moved since my first visit in 2019. I’d lost a lot of my pics from the first visit and was keen to have another go. I loved it as much the second time around.

Thanks for looking

 

[J_a_t_33]

Very cool!

 

[HughieD]

Superb report. Stupidly, this place has escaped me. In fact many of the big sites in my native Lincolnshire have ironically.

 

[FunkyMuffin]

Very cool!

Thank you very much!

 

[FunkyMuffin]

Superb report. Stupidly, this place has escaped me. In fact many of the big sites in my native Lincolnshire have ironically.

Thank you kindly sir!
On no! I only found out about it through a friend. The first visit was great, the second I found they had moved most of the stuff outside and were in the process of welding all the doors shut. Funny thing is I hadn’t realised it was so close to the live part of the base

 

[Mikeymutt]

A nice set of pics there. I made a visit here about four years ago. And having been to quite a lot of bomb dumps this is by far my favourite.

 

[FunkyMuffin]

A nice set of pics there. I made a visit here about four years ago. And having been to quite a lot of bomb dumps this is by far my favourite.

Thank you kindly! It was one of the best I’ve come across.

 

[robparqua]

Absolutely brilliant , many thanks.

 

[FunkyMuffin]

Absolutely brilliant , many thanks.

Why thank you!

 

[Wrench]

Just absolutely splendid that.
Cracking shots muff lady

 

[FunkyMuffin]

Just absolutely splendid that.
Cracking shots muff lady

Why thank you kindly tbolt

 

[Wrench]

Why thank you kindly tbolt

Some really nice pics there fm

 

[The Wombat]

Fantastic shots, good work

 

[pme]

Does anybody know what mercury thallium was used for (picture of metal door has mention of this at the the top of the door frame)
Had a good google but cant find anything specific,
Thanks in advance

 

[Hayman]

Does anybody know what mercury thallium was used for (picture of metal door has mention of this at the the top of the door frame)
Had a good google but cant find anything specific,
Thanks in advance

From Wikipedia: "

Other uses​

A mercury–thallium alloy, which forms a eutectic at 8.5% thallium, is reported to freeze at −60 °C, some 20 °C below the freezing point of mercury. This alloy is used in thermometers and low-temperature switches.

 

[Natters5]

I am surprised at the abandoned forklift trucks the 7 Ton Henley is a bit of a museum piece but still worth £10,000 and the small orange one looks like a newish Toyota costing £30,000 new, been a few years since I worked in the air freight industry but there was always a waiting list for used trucks and it was devils own job to pick up some short term rentals when we had a surge in business.

 

[BikinGlynn]

NIcely done FM, I loved this place when I went with my lad & had the tornados taking off right overhead.
I believe this is now being used again & an guessing the forklift was from your 20 visit as they had started doing something with it last year

 

[pme]

From Wikipedia: "

Other uses​

A mercury–thallium alloy, which forms a eutectic at 8.5% thallium, is reported to freeze at −60 °C, some 20 °C below the freezing point of mercury. This alloy is used in thermometers and low-temperature switches.

I mentioned I had googled it and there wasnt much and , yes its says that in wiki, BUT how does it relate to munitions?
if anyone knows the actual answer please reply!

 

[superplum]

I mentioned I had googled it and there wasnt much and , yes its says that in wiki, BUT how does it relate to munitions?
if anyone knows the actual answer please reply!

It's contained in the Sidewinder (AIM-9) Seeker head. The notice will refer to spillage and safety precautions.

 

[pme]

Superplum, many thanks, had a suspicion would be IR related.