Newbuild airfields

MH, Hi,
It was clearly obvious (from the very early days) that RAF Stanley could not be developed into a major international terminal (civil and/or military) – the ‘real estate’ just did not exist.
There therefore needed to be found an airfield site which could be (a) used for Island defence, and (b) availaible (and be defensible) to fly-in military re-inforcements – in the event they were required. Thus RAF Mt Pleasant.
Modern financial problems have not lessened the threat. Any possible Argentina Govt could go for it again as a reason for taking the citizens of Argentina away from their real internal financial problems and into ‘blue sky’ approach of winning back the Malvinas (same like Spain and Gibraltar!).
We are, thus, into international politics; and here, Oh Wise One. they don’t always compute with those of us who live in the real world!
Rgds
Resmoroh

Ahhh, good old Port Stanley. The runway was so short the place was almost an aircraft carrier on dry(ish) land. The poor old Flatten’ems used to have to take the wire every landing there. It’s also the only place I’ve seen an Islander on the approach with a ground speed of about 35 knots or less (carrying a good bit more power than normal approach settings) pick up to about 70 in the blink of an eye when the wind suddenly dropped to almost zero. That in itself is an unusual occurrence on the islands, there’s always a bloody wind down there.
I’m amazed at the winds FIGAS operate the Islanders in, I certainly wouldn’t want to.

Both Predannack and Perranporth were RAF(Air Ministry) and the Admiralty needed a new airfield in that part of the world, thats one story I have been told.

Sorry I should have added Portreath to the list too! There were several instances of airfields being transferred between the Air Min and Admiralty during the war, so I would have thought that post war it should have been much easier, given the general run down of requirements …….. except around Helston!

Of course there is also Lydd opened in 1956 and built for the Silver City car ferries because of Lympe’s waterlogging problems.
You could say Gatwick was also a new airport as it was mostly built on land outside the boundry of the old airport.

sorry, but RAAF scherger was the most recent military base, being built in 1998 and tindal in 1988

Hello All

Here in S.E. Queensland, Australia, around Brisbane, the new major airfields are:

GA Airfields

Caboolture Airfield – mid 1980’s
Watts Bridge Memorial (originally RAAF airfield closed 1945, reactivated 1985
Kilcoy Airfield – about 1991

The original aerodrome for Brisbane was closed in the 1980’s and a brand new one built a few kilometers to the north.

cheers

London City Airport? Built in the late 1980s….

Dundee airport has been there for years, but ‘upgraded’ to have a tarmac runway fairly recently (1970s?)

Possibly I’m being rather parochial, and it’s not a military airfield, but Dundee City Airport must have a claim to being a recent build. Built largely on reclaimed land along Dundee’s Riverside Drive, due in great to the foresight of several enthusiastic amateur flyers such as Tayside Aviation’s previous Managing Director, Lovat Fraser, who formed his company at Riverside Airstrip with one aircraft, a Tipsy Nipper. The airport , developed from these very humble but far-sighted beginnings, is now very busy, offers great ab-initio and upgrade training courses, as well as being home to a number of carriers for flights to UK and European destinations.

How did they justify building Culdrose at the time, with Predannack a stones throw away and Perranporth not much further?

Both Predannack and Perranporth were RAF(Air Ministry) and the Admiralty needed a new airfield in that part of the world, thats one story I have been told.
My father actually worked on the farm that is now Culdrose prior to the airfield being built.

In the UK I would think Culdrose was the last military airfield built from scratch, not opening until April 1947.

How did they justify building Culdrose at the time, with Predannack a stones throw away and Perranporth not much further?

Camp Bastion Airfield, Helmand, Afghanistan. Originally not a “hard” runway. It was upgraded in 2007. Been there, happy if I do not have to go again!

MH, Hi,
It was clearly obvious (from the very early days) that RAF Stanley could not be developed into a major international terminal (civil and/or military) – the ‘real estate’ just did not exist.
There therefore needed to be found an airfield site which could be (a) used for Island defence, and (b) availaible (and be defensible) to fly-in military re-inforcements – in the event they were required. Thus RAF Mt Pleasant.
Modern financial problems have not lessened the threat. Any possible Argentina Govt could go for it again as a reason for taking the citizens of Argentina away from their real internal financial problems and into ‘blue sky’ approach of winning back the Malvinas (same like Spain and Gibraltar!).
We are, thus, into international politics; and here, Oh Wise One. they don’t always compute with those of us who live in the real world!
Rgds
Resmoroh

It might be of passing interest to know how Mount Pleasant, Falkland, was sited.
On a bitterly cold (Falkland) winter afternoon a small group of guys (RAF, PSA, Met (and I was one!), etc) went to view this possible site (from RAF Stanley!). RAF said “OK”. PSA said “There’s going to be problems”(they were subsequently proved right!). Met said “With a, basically, E/W runway I don’t like that high ground (600ft AMSL?) to the N. Could give severe problems in a cross-wind”. However, the Fat Was Chewed, and eventually someone (I know not who!) stuck his heel into the sodden turf (as is always in those parts!) and said “Here”.
And so it came to pass!!
HTH
Resmoroh

Was there a particular reason MP was built? Why was the money not put into redeveloping RAF Stanley? Was it a case of my more security having a more isolated base? Or just the amusing thought of intrepid and rare aircraft enthusiasts getting bogged down on the way there?

MH

It might be of passing interest to know how Mount Pleasant, Falkland, was sited.
On a bitterly cold (Falkland) winter afternoon a small group of guys (RAF, PSA, Met (and I was one!), etc) went to view this possible site (from RAF Stanley!). RAF said “OK”. PSA said “There’s going to be problems”(they were subsequently proved right!). Met said “With a, basically, E/W runway I don’t like that high ground (600ft AMSL?) to the N. Could give severe problems in a cross-wind”. However, the Fat Was Chewed, and eventually someone (I know not who!) stuck his heel into the sodden turf (as is always in those parts!) and said “Here”.
And so it came to pass!!
HTH
Resmoroh

Sheffield city airport built 1997 http://www.sheffieldairport.com/2007/12/01/the-sheffield-airport-then-and-now/#more-4 white elephant?
Sheffields runway is 1200 metres long, 30 metres wide and has a height of 231 feet. Peel have recently announced its full closure.11 years from opening is this a peace time record?

In the UK I would think Culdrose was the last military airfield built from scratch, not opening until April 1947. Overseas – Mount Pleasant?
Interesting question.
Bill