Pearce, RAAF

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ICAO Code YPEA/
Last Validated
City Perth
Position 31°40'04"S 116°00'54"E
Runway(s) 05/23, 18L/36R, 18R/36L, HEL
Elevation 150 ft

General

This military airfield is the western-most mainland air base of the Royal Australian Air Force, just north east of Perth. Besides some RAAF training squadrons with PC-21 and Hawks, the base also houses a sizeable Republic of Singapore Air Force enclave with PC-21 trainers.

Layout

The base is dominated by two north-south runways. The east side contains the ramps, the RAAF occupies the north east part whereas the RSiAF resides to the south of that. There is also a smaller west-east runway. The north, west and south sides are fenced off barren pieces of land covered by bushes and other foliage preventing clear views.

Getting There

From Perth, simply take the Great Northern Highway northbound. This no.1/95 road runs past the base. Alternatively, from Joondalup take road 86 eastbound which becomes Neaves road.

Around the Airport

1South side approach

The south side is the only straightforward place to spot. Simply take Warren Road off the aforementioned Great Northern Highway. This is the second to last asphalt road before you reach the base from the south (the last one leads to an industrial estate). Follow this road, the asphalt ends but the road continues albeit unpaved. The aircraft are still a bit high here. You can see them taxiing to the threshold of runway 36 and watch the southern part of the taxiway as well.

2Northeast side approach

The approach to runways 18L and R used to be do-able from the barren land to the north of the perimeter. Unfortunately, this has been fenced off and is now military terrain. So the only viable option on the north side is to find a spot east of the Great Northern Highway, which is a no-stop road itself. There are some tracks to the east of this road and north of the village. The distance will be considerable though since you will be under the approach of runway 23 rather than 18!

3RAAF PC-21 sheds Bullsbrook Rd

From Bullsbrook Road, which is a small street off No.1 Road that ends in a crash gate, you can read up to a dozen PC-21s under their sheds. Obviously, provided they are going to fly and are outside.

4RAAF Hawk sheds Truscot St

Another glimpse of parked aircraft can be catched by taking North Avenue to the right just past the gate and make another right into Truscot Street. From there you can see a small part of the Hawk sheds tail on.

5RSiAF platforms

These are situated in the centre east side of the airfield and can not be seen from spot 1. The western side is covered by undergrowth, both on base and directly to the west of that. On the east side, the view is obscured by buildings.

6Old north side spot

The old spot on the north side can not be reached. There is a distant possibility, if you can park your car somewhere, to walk through the scrublands towards the perimeter fence from the north side. You used to be able to see the Hawk sheds from there too.

Spot 1 is good for approach shots (300mm digital, 50% crop, Otger van der Kooij)

And less handy although do-able for take-offs (400mm digital, Erwin van Dijkman)

Frequencies

127.250Ground
118.300 / 257.800Tower
135.900Departure
130.200Approach
118.700Perth Departure
123.600Perth Approach
316.100 / 340.000ATIS

Based Operators

Royal Australian Air Force
79sqHawk Mk127
2nd FTSPC-21
Republic of Singapore Air Force
130sqPC-21

Preserved

Other Airfields

Amberley, RAAF
Canberra Intl. (ex Fairbairn, RAAF)  
East Sale, RAAF
Edinburgh, RAAF  
Gold Coast  
Newcastle - Williamtown, RAAF
Nowra - Albatross, HMAS  
Oakey, AAF  
Pearce, RAAF
Richmond, RAAF  
Wagga Wagga, RAAF  

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