RAF Mount Pleasant
RAF Mount Pleasant
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| East Falkland Near Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands |
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 EGYP
Shown within Falkland Islands
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| Coordinates | 51°49′22″S 058°26′50″W / 51.82278°S 58.44722°WCoordinates: 51°49′22″S 058°26′50″W / 51.82278°S 58.44722°W | ||||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||
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| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1985 | ||||||||
| In use | 1985 – present | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: MPN, ICAO: EGYP, WMO: 88889 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 233 feet (71 m)AMSL | ||||||||
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RAF Mount Pleasant (IATA: MPN, ICAO: EGYP) (also known as Mount Pleasant Airport, Mount Pleasant Complex or MPA) is a Royal Air Force station in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The airfield goes by the motto of "Defend the right" (while the motto of the islands is "Desire the right") and is part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI). Home to between 1,000 and 2,000 British military personnel, it is located about 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Stanley, the capital of the Falklands—on the island of East Falkland. The world's longest corridor, half a mile (800 m) long, links the barracks, messes and recreational and welfare areas of the station, and was nicknamed the "Death Star Corridor" by personnel.
Mount Pleasant was opened by Prince Andrew on 12 May 1985, becoming fully operational the following year. The station was constructed as part of British efforts to strengthen the defence of the Falkland Islands following the 1982 war with Argentine forces. It remains the newest purpose-built RAF station and replaced previous RAF facilities at Port Stanley Airport.
RAF Mount Pleasant is the newest permanent airfield in the Royal Air Force. The RAF previously had a small airfield at Stanley airfield after the end of the hostilities in 1982. During the Falklands War when the islands were occupied by Argentine military forces, British aircraft were sent to disable the runway with RAF Strike Command Vulcan bombers (Operation Black Buck) and Royal Navy Sea Harriers. The raids were moderately successful, and on the first Black Buck mission one 1,000-pound (450 kg) bomb hit the runway in the middle, disabling it. However, temporary repairs by the Argentines did allow C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to bring in supplies and take out casualties until the end of the conflict. At the end of hostilities the runway was fully repaired by British military engineers.
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