Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy. (Darwin, Australia)

Only modern military and government aviation can be posted in this section.
Post Reply
burnsy133
Posts: 225
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:55 pm

Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy. (Darwin, Australia)

Post by burnsy133 » Sun Nov 03, 2024 10:19 am

After the initial fact finding day 1, I was ready for day 2 and had researched as much as I could as to where to shoot from. I had been given some information regarding one place that departures could be shot from, so off I toddled, as it turned out , getting there at 7, just before light and the spot given was pretty full, never the less, with car parked and ready to roll...here is day 2.



First up was this RAAF F-18, departing off Runway 11, I was told that conditions are normally more spotter friendly, but due to a displaced threshold, things were a little in and out of the trees.



ImageExercise Pitch Black - Day2. by Rob Burns, on Flickr



Fair play to the RAAF and their F-18's, they certainly put some hours in with the 9 frames they sent, a mixture of F's and G's.



ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr



Next up was the Italians with a G550, one of the first up each day to perform its AEW duties.



ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr



With three missions a day it was pretty much constant military movements, next up were the Republic of Singapore F-15's.



ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr



Next was the turn of the French, who bizarrely only sent three aircraft over, long way to go for three.



ImageExercise Pitch Black 2004 by Rob Burns, on Flickr



Another star for me was this Republic of Singapore G550, up early each morning, performing its AEW duties.



ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr



Papua New Guinea Defence force PAC750 seen departing, two of the three PNGDF versions were present throughout the exercise, a third has since been delivered, if the media is to be believed, the Australians bought these three and gifted them to the PNGDF. Still not sure what their role was in the exercise.



ImageExercise Pitch Black 2004 by Rob Burns, on Flickr



Republic of Singapore also sent six F-16C/D's over for the Exercise, fair to say they got their moneys worth, operating up to three missions per day.



ImageExercise Pitch Black by Rob Burns, on Flickr



Republic of Korea Airforce F-15K Slam Eagle, departs on day two, one of six based at Darwin for the exercise.



ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr



Japanese Self Defence Force F-2A departs for day 2 of exercise Pitch Black, one of six in attendance.



ImagePitch Black Day 2, first Launch by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Republic of Singapore F-16, wearing 140 SQN, special marks.

ImagePitch Black Day2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

The Singapore Airforce also brought some F-16D's to the exercise, here is 694, departing for the first sortie of day 2.

ImagePitch Black Day 2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Indonesian Airforce, brought a mixture of F-16 AM, BM, C's and D's, supported by four C-130's, Here you have specially marked F-16, celebrating 62 years of the Indonesian Airforce.

ImagePitch Black Day 2. by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Joining its specially marked sister ship was TS-1641, F-16D, seen launching into the cloudless sky.

ImagePitch Black Day 2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

One of 6 Italian Navy F-35B's, off on the first mission of the day.

ImagePitch Black day 2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

During the week I was there, you never really had long to wait for a support flight to depart, here A34-007 departs for Amberley, callings Wallaby 31.

ImageExercise Pitch Black, day 2. by Rob Burns, on Flickr

17-007, Philippine air force FA-50, one of 4 sent for the exercise.

ImagePhilippines Airforce FA-50. by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Will post some more when i can.

Thanks
Last edited by burnsy133 on Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:18 am, edited 3 times in total.

User avatar
SW Sky Blue
Posts: 1900
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:54 pm
Location: On a hill in Devon

Re: Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy.

Post by SW Sky Blue » Sun Nov 03, 2024 10:50 am

Excellent set :thumbs:

User avatar
Jason Grant
Moderator
Posts: 860
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:44 pm
Location: Tamworth, Staffs

Re: Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy.

Post by Jason Grant » Sun Nov 03, 2024 12:31 pm

Wow, what a set. It’s not often we get to see such a set of exotic beauties like these. Thanks for sharing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonintamworth/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

100arw
Posts: 1299
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:32 pm
Location: North East

Re: Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy.

Post by 100arw » Sun Nov 03, 2024 1:25 pm

Where were they taken?
P.

User avatar
Professor_M
Posts: 1251
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2022 7:07 am

Re: Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy. (Darwin, Australia)

Post by Professor_M » Sun Nov 03, 2024 5:01 pm

A varied mix of exotica there - thanks for sharing.

david14
Posts: 903
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:41 pm

Re: Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy. (Darwin, Australia)

Post by david14 » Sun Nov 03, 2024 5:24 pm

Nice mix of air forces/aircraft that we mostly don't see over here, very nice

User avatar
Blue Diamond
Posts: 3039
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:06 am

Re: Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy. (Darwin, Australia)

Post by Blue Diamond » Sun Nov 03, 2024 6:58 pm

Luvvly Jubbly. Thanks for sharing.
Fighting 92 - The King Cobras
http://www.92squadron.org.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.92squadron.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

User avatar
toom317
Posts: 2061
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:31 pm

Re: Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy. (Darwin, Australia)

Post by toom317 » Sun Nov 03, 2024 8:47 pm

I may be biased as I like Hornets, but that first shot is really nice. The rest aren't bad either. :thumb:
No one gets out of life alive.



Equipment: Camera, Lens, Goretex Y fronts

slogen51
Moderator
Posts: 57784
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

Re: Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy. (Darwin, Australia)

Post by slogen51 » Mon Nov 04, 2024 7:10 am

Flipping heck - fantastic

Indonesian vipers - that is taking the mick!

I had never heard of a PAC 750 before but I like the look of them

It does look like a brilliant exercise and I imagine there is some fairly exotic civvies in and out of Darwin to fill in the quiet moments.

Post Reply

Return to “Current Military Photography”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 100 guests