RAF Mount Pleasant (IATA: MPN, ICAO: EGYP) (also known as Mount Pleasant Airport or Mount Pleasant Complex)^[1] is a military base for the Royal Air Force in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The facility is part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI). The base, home to anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 British military personnel, is located about thirty miles southwest of Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, on the island of East Falkland. The world's longest corridor, a half-mile long, links barracks, messes and recreational and welfare areas of the base. ^[2] The base is occasionally referred to by its residents as the Death Star because of its sometimes confusing layout. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... The ICAO airport code (IPA pronunciation: ) is a four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. ... Stanley is an old masculine name from the 11th and 12th century English contraction of Stoney Meadow. It is also the name of a number of places, and has other miscellaneous uses. ... The term above mean sea level (AMSL) refers to the elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of any object, relative to the average sea level. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Runway 13R/31L of El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... The ICAO airport code (IPA pronunciation: ) is a four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. ... RAF redirects here. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (almost exclusively Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... A British joint-forces flag used in the Falkands [1] The Falkland Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom and, as such, rely on the UK for guarantee of their security. ... Official website: http://www. ... East Falkland (beige) shown within Falkland Islands East Falkland, the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6,605 square kilometres. ... The Death Star was an enormous military battle station in the fictional Star Wars universe. ...

History

RAF Mount Pleasant is the most recent purpose-built airfield in the Royal Air Force.^[3] The RAF previously had a small base at Stanley. In 1982 during Falklands War when the islands were occupied by Argentine military forces, British aircraft attempted to destroy that base. However, none of the Vulcan bomber raids actually destroyed the Stanley runway, nor did they prevent the Argentines using the runway. The craters seen (see image in external link) were in fact heaps of earth placed there by the Argentines to make it look as though the runway was damaged.^[4] RAF redirects here. ... Official website: http://www. ... Combatants United Kingdom Argentina Casualties 258 killed [3] 777 wounded 59 taken prisoner 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner The Falklands War (Spanish: ) was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. ... The Avro Vulcan was a British delta-wing subsonic bomber, operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1984. ...

After the war ended, the British still faced the problem of potential Argentine aggression in the future, so an aircraft carrier had to remain on station to guard the islands with its squadron of Sea Harriers until the local airfield was prepared for jet aircraft. HMS Hermes was the first to take guard duty, whilst HMS Invincible went north to change a gearbox (Argentines claimed the aircraft carrier was hit on May 30, and needed repairs). Invincible then returned to relieve Hermes which urgently needed to return to the UK to have its boilers cleaned. Invincible returned until the ship was relieved by HMS Illustrious, which was rushed south so quickly that it was actually commissioned during the journey. Once Port Stanley runway was available for jets, Illustrious was relieved by several RAF Phantoms. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The second HMS Hermes (R12) was a Centaur-class aircraft carrier, the last of the postwar conventional aircraft carriers commissioned into the Royal Navy. ... The sixth and current HMS Invincible (R05) is a light aircraft carrier, the lead ship of three in her class. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... The fifth HMS Illustrious (R06) is an Invincible-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, affectionately known as Lusty to her crew. ... The F-4 Phantom II (simply F-4 Phantom after 1990) is a two-place (tandem), supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber built by McDonnell Douglas Corporation. ...

The British government then decided to construct a new RAF base to strengthen the island's defences. Mount Pleasant, to the west of Stanley, was chosen. The airfield was opened by The Duke of York in 1985, and becamed fully operational in 1986.^[5] The Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG, KCVO, ADC(P) (Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor; born Windsor, 19 February 1960), is a member of the British Royal Family, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Duke of York since 1986. ...

Current equipment

RAF Mount Pleasant has a wide range of social and sporting facilities including a gym, swimming pool, golf course, diving centre, go-karting, laserquest, library, cinema, bowling, climbing wall, indoor and outdoor sports pitches. There are two NAAFI shops, hairdressers, medical centre, and education centre on the base. There is also a complex that includes a café and a small shop (RO NO KEs), which are both owned and run by the Falkland Islands Company.^[6] The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) (pronounced ) is a non-profit retaining organisation created by the British government in 1921 to run recreational establishments needed by the Armed Forces, and to sell goods to servicemen and their families. ... Falkland Islands Holdings plc (FIH) is a company which plays a key role in the economy of the Falkland Islands. ...

Currently based at Mount Pleasant are No. 1435 Flight with 4 Tornado F3s, No. 1312 Flight, with a single VC-10 tanker and one Hercules C130, as well as No 78 Squadron with Sea King helicopters. Ground units include No 7, 303, and 751 Signals Units and a Rapier detachment from the RAF Regiment.^[7][8] While the UK officially does not foresee any threat to the Falkland Islands, it maintains significant military forces as a deterrent against any aggressor. ... The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine fighters, which was jointly developed by the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Panavia Tornado. ... While the UK officially does not foresee any threat to the Falkland Islands, it maintains significant military forces as a deterrent against any aggressor. ... The VC-10 airliner was designed and built by Vickers (part of the British Aircraft Corporation) in the 1960s. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for military forces worldwide. ... A United States Air Force C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop aircraft that serves as the main tactical airlifter for military forces worldwide. ... No. ... The Westland Sea King is a license-built version of the Sikorsky helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. ... Rapier Type surface to air Nationality UK Era Cold War Launch platform vehicle Target aircraft History Builder British Aerospace Date of design Production period Service duration Operators UK Variants ? Number built ? Specifications Type Diameter 0. ... The Royal Air Force Regiment (RAF Regt) is a specialist corps within the Royal Air Force, responsible for capturing and defending airfields and associated installations. ...

The 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) provides a constant support and is part of the Joint Service Falkland Islands Detachment which consists of RAF and RLC EOD teams. It is mainly based in Stanley but there is also a detachment at Mount Pleasant. The group destroys munitions from the Falklands War that did not explode at the time and briefs troops, tourists and citizens on the areas which are safe and the minefield marking which have been put in place.^[9] RAF redirects here. ... The Royal Logistic Corps is the British Army corps that provides the logistic support for the Army. ... US Soldiers removing landmines. ... Official website: http://www. ... Combatants United Kingdom Argentina Casualties 258 killed [3] 777 wounded 59 taken prisoner 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner The Falklands War (Spanish: ) was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. ...

There is also a Joint Communications Unit (JCU) providing the electronic warfare and command and control systems for the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force stationed there.^[10] Electronic warfare (EW) has three main components: Electronic Attack (EA) This is the active use of the electromagnetic spectrum to deny its use by an adversary. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... RAF redirects here. ...

Passenger flights

Using the IATA airport code MPN, RAF Mount Pleasant also acts as the Falkland Islands' only international airport, along with its military role. Flights open to civilian passengers are operated six times each month by the Royal Air Force to and from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom with a refuelling stop at RAF Ascension Island in the south-central Atlantic Ocean. RAF flights are on TriStar aircraft, although it is common for charter aircraft from Air Luxor to be used if the TriStars are required for operational flights. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... RAF Brize Norton is a Royal Air Force station in Oxfordshire about 50 miles west of London, England, United Kingdom. ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from the Latinised form Oxonia) is a county in the South East of England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... Ascension Island Base is a British station on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. ... The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as just L-1011 (pronounced ell-ten-eleven), was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. ... Air Luxor is a scheduled airline based in Lisbon in Portugal. ...

Additionally, every Saturday LAN Airlines operates scheduled commercial flights to the city of Punta Arenas in southern Chile stopping at Río Gallegos, Argentina once a month. LAN Airlines S.A. NYSE: LFL (formerly LanChile) is an airline holding based in Santiago, Chile. ... City of Punta Arenas Punta Arenas in Tierra del Fuego Punta Arenas is the main city in the Strait of Magellan and the capital of the Región de Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena, Chile. ... Río Gallegos is a city in Argentina and is the capital of the Santa Cruz Province. ...

See also

• List of RAF stations

This is a list of Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. ...

Sources

http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=FK00004