I do love reading this thread. I have quite the list of places to see!
Here’s the conclusion of my flying from yesterday. I’ll have to make this quick, since I have to leave for work this evening.
After some delay (hey, I have to eat 
), our scientists from yesterday and additional members of their team already in Stanley boarded a refreshed and refueled T-50 bound for Rio Grande (SAWE) on the coast of Tiera del Fuego in Southern Argentina. I planned a more direct route over Mount Pleasant and Airway UW46, although with a forecast 40-knot headwind our flight time would be nearly equal to the outbound leg. To remain under our imposed 55,000 lb (25,000 kg) weight limit, I selected nearby Ushuaia as our alternate airport.
Here we are holding short of Runway 9 at Stanley. Taxiing a jet aircraft out of a confined ramp like Stanley is challenging. The Fokker requires breakaway thrust only slightly above idle, but that thrust is capable of doing real damage behind you. Judging your clearance is equally challenging since the Fokker’s turn radius is limited by the tailplane, not the wingtip (in other words, just because the wingtip clears an obstacle while turning, there’s no guarantee the stabilizer will clear as it swings by). If in doubt, stop and call a tug!
Oof, that’s short! This is one of those infrequent situations wherein we’ll be taking off on Runway 9 using part of the Runway 27 displaced threshold. Remember that portion of the runway isn’t usable for landing on 27 but is available for takeoff in both directions. Regardless, we’ll definitely be setting takeoff thrust prior to brake release! (Note that in SuperSpud’s scenery, there’s a considerable “bump” at the displaced threshold.)
Climbing westbound over East Falkland, with much of the 1982 warzone in view. Goose Green is located on the isthmus above and to the left of T-50. Grantham Sound is directly above her on the east side of Falkland Sound, while San Carlos is above and to the right. The level of desolation here is unbelievable! Also, I wish the weather yesterday had been like today!
Passing over RAF Mount Pleasant. Stanley Airport is just at the tip of T-50’s left stabilizer, with Fitzroy and Bluff Cove to the right of her left engine. On the left of the photo and above T-50’s right wingtip you can see Teal Inlet and the ground across which the British marched toward Stanley. RAF Mount Pleasant became operational in 1986, allowing No. 23 Squadron to relocate from Stanley. The squadron operated Phantom FGR.2s until replaced by Tornados in 1992. Today No. 905 Air Expeditionary Wing defends the island with four Typhoon FGR.4s and a single Voyager KC.2 (Airbus A330) tanker and A400M transport, while the Royal Army maintains a small air defense garrison here. (The basic scenery for Mount Pleasant is awful, so I chose Stanley for this whole trip! Sadly only today did I find Flak’s excellent scenery package for Mount Pleasant at flightsim.to. Now I’ll have to come back!)
Cruising at FL330 with West Falkland in the distance. Not much happened here during the war, although the Argentinian’s did occupy Pebble Island, visible directly above T-50 in the extreme distance. Not all was quiet here, though, as flights of A-4s and Daggers flew low over the island heading toward the British fleet in Falkland Sound and at San Carlos.
Descending into Rio Grande with the Isla de los Estados (Staten Island) in the distance. On May 2, 1982, Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano was torpedoed and sunk 90 nautical miles southeast of Isla de los Estados by HMS Conqueror. Operating under radio silence and in poor visibility, her escorts were initially unaware that anything had happened to the cruiser, which greatly delayed rescue. Belgrano’s sinking was the most controversial incident of the entire war, and discussion (arguments) regarding both the necessity and merits of the attack are still debated today.
Final approach into Rio Grande. I requested vectors to the ILS approach course from MSFS ATC, which summarily ignored me, so I self-vectored again. This area is mostly flat agricultural land, although you can spy the mountains surrounding Ushuaia in the distance. In 1982 Rio Grande airport was Naval Air Station Almirante Quijada and hosted Daggers, Skyhawks, Super Etendards, and Neptunes of both the COAN and FAA. The Etendards that sank HMS Sheffield and Atlantic Conveyor were based here.
On the naval ramp at Rio Grande. Looking at the terminal, it’s apparent that this airport, part of a package of 35 Argentine airports, suffers from some terraforming issues! 
Alright, I think that’s it. It’s amazing how MSFS can bring history to life. I learned quite a bit completing this series of flights, and I hope you did, too! I’m gone for much of the rest of the month, so I’ll wish you all a happy holiday season. Bye for now! 
SCNT
