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40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport

FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport FDC FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport FDC
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40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport Mount Pleasant Airport, formally RAF Mount Pleasant and now the Mount Pleasant Complex, is a UK Ministry of Defence Joint Operating Base in the Falkland Islands. It is operated by the British Armed Forces and is used for air operations, including both military and civilian flights. Opened in 1985, it was constructed following the Falklands…
FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport Set FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport Set
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FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £0.86 Full Sheet FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £0.86 Full Sheet
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FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £0.86 Stamp FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £0.86 Stamp
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FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £1.18 Full Sheet FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £1.18 Full Sheet
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FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £1.18 Stamp FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £1.18 Stamp
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FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £1.52 Full Sheet FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £1.52 Full Sheet
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FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £1.52 Stamp FAL198 40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport £1.52 Stamp
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40th Anniversary of the Opening of Mount Pleasant Airport


Mount Pleasant Airport, formally RAF Mount Pleasant and now the Mount Pleasant Complex, is a UK Ministry of Defence Joint Operating Base in the Falkland Islands. It is operated by the British Armed Forces and is used for air operations, including both military and civilian flights. Opened in 1985, it was constructed following the Falklands Conflict to bolster the islands' defence capabilities and serve as a major airbase. The airport replaced previous RAF facilities at Port Stanley Airport.


The original decision to build an airport in the Falklands was made in 1982. The following year Michael Heseltine, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced that the decision had been made to build the airport at Mount Pleasant rather than Stanley as, despite the remoteness of the location and the need for the long road to Stanley, it was a more cost effective and straightforward solution than upgrading the airport at Stanley. Building Mount Pleasant Airfield was a significant achievement, particularly given the logistical challenges (apart from stone and water everything had to be shipped from the UK) and the strategic importance of the project.


The first flight to the new airfield landed 12 May 1985. Despite having to slow down to avoid arriving early, 6 new world records were set during the inaugural flights, for each leg of the journey and for the overall time (including the refuelling stop at Ascension) of 18 hours 28 minutes. Similar records were set two days later on the return flights which took just 17 hours and 22 minutes.


Waiting to welcome Flight 3759 were Sir Rex Hunt and Major General Peter de la Billiere, Commander British Forces Falkland Islands, together a crowd of thousands. The inaugural flight marked the completion of the first phase of the airport that had taken just 16 months. The second phase, which included the operational and accommodation buildings, was completed the following year and Mount Pleasant became fully operational on 1 May 1986.


Among the many dignitaries aboard the inaugural flight was Michael Heseltine. In his speech he explained many of the benefits of the new airport. The ability to land wide-bodied jets would transform defence operations on the Islands and it would play a major part in the islands’ economic and social development as once completed it would offer an International Airport to Civil Aviation Authority standards for use by the public, linking the Falklands to the outside world assisting the growth of both trade and tourism.


The sense of security that the Mount Pleasant complex and runway offered then to the people of the Falklands has not diminished today, providing its valuable link with the UK and its representation of a huge commitment from the British Government.


Many different aircraft have landed and been stationed at Mount Pleasant. A selection are featured in this special stamp issue.


38p The Lockheed TriStar was the first aircraft to land at Mount Pleasant and played a significant role in supporting the Falklands. The RAF's TriStar fleet served as both air-to-air refuelling tankers and transport aircraft. Based at RAF Brize Norton their service in the Falklands and other operational areas was crucial.


86p The A320 Airbus is a narrow-body, single-aisle jetliner that can operate on the flight route between Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands and Punta Arenas, Chile. LATAM Airlines uses the A320 on this service. A typical configuration on this route allows for 174 passengers with flights taking approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.


£1.18 The Phantom FGR2 played a significant role in the air defence of the Falkland Islands, particularly before the introduction of the Tornado F.3. Initially, Phantom FGR2s were stationed on Ascension Island before being deployed to Mount Pleasant, providing a prominent presence in the South Atlantic for several years.


£1.52 The Atlas C1 (A400M) plays a crucial role in the Falkland Islands. It provides tactical airlift, maritime patrol, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance capabilities. The Atlas C1 also supports air-to-air refuelling operations, enhancing its ability to operate at range and deliver cargo to the Falklands. In August 2022, the Atlas C1 was refuelled for the first time over the South Atlantic by a Voyager tanker flying from the Falkland Islands. This demonstrated the aircraft's ability to extend its operational range and support deployments to the Falklands. Its primary role is to conduct Maritime Reconnaissance and SAR in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands. In January 2025, it conducted a flight over The Antarctic in support of the British Antarctic Survey. The flight motto is 'Uphold the Right'; the motto of the Falkland Islands is 'Desire the Right'.


FDC. The RAF's Voyager aircraft took over from the TriStar following its 30 years of service. Voyager offers advanced air-to-air refuelling capabilities and conducts regular flights between the UK and the Falklands. In June 2022, Voyager achieved two new records for uninterrupted flights between the UK and the Falkland Islands, showcasing its ability to sustain the South Atlantic Airbridge without refuelling. Covering 6834 nautical miles, the journey was completed in 15 hours and 9 minutes, surpassing previous records that had stood for over three decades. The RAF Voyager is stationed at RAF Brize Norton with frequent deployments to Mount Pleasant, primarily supporting air to air refuelling with a secondary medical evacuation role. Additionally, a civilian Voyager is operated by AirTanker under contract, supporting the South Atlantic Airbridge between the UK and Falkland Islands.


We acknowledge with thanks the help and assistance of British Forces South Atlantic.


Technical Details

Designer Andrew Robinson

Printer Cartor Security Printing

Process Stochastic lithography

Stamp Size 42 x 28mm

Perforation 13 ¼ x 13 ½ per 2cms

Sheet Layout 10

Release Date 28 May, 2025

Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd

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