RAAF Base Pearce

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RAAF Base Pearce ( ICAO: YPEA ) is a military airfield of the Royal Australian Air Force 35 km northeast of Perth in the State of Western Australia. It is the main training airfield for both the RAAF and the Republic of Singapore Air Force ( RSAF ).

It is the base with the most aircraft movements throughout the country, including civil movements count. In addition to the main role of pilot training Pearce is the only permanent base on the west coast an important function for logistic tasks. Administratively Pearce is also the mitbenutzte for the training slopes of RAAF Gingin 40 km further north.

Was named the base after the politician Sir George Foster Pearce.

History

With the construction of the airport began in 1936 in the vicinity of Bullsbrook. As Pearce Air Force Station was the establishment on February 6, opened in 1939 and was home course of the 14 Squadron and 25 Squadron. The types used were the Hawker Demon and Avro Anson.

During the Second World War, the station home to the 5 Initial Training School as part of the Empire Air Training Schemes where the recruits acquired basic knowledge of mathematics, navigation and aerodynamics have been.

Between 1946 and 1954, equipped with modified Avro Lincoln bombers 694 11 Squadron was on the court, whose task were patrol flights over the Indian Ocean. Since 1 June 1952, the base pay its current name and the end of the 1950s, still based in Pearce 2 Flying Training School was moved (designation by the end of 1968 1 Applied Flying Training School) on the base.

In the spring of 2014, the base was a center of the search for the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

Current usage

The RAAF used for flight training, the types Pilatus PC -9 / A, subject to the 2nd Flying Training School, and the battle- grade BAE Systems Hawk 127 of the 79th Squadron. The training of RSAF pilot is responsible for the 130th Squadron with their Aermacchi S 211 combat trainers. In addition there are some regular non-flying units as well as with the 25th (City of Perth ) Squadron still a reserve unit.