Following on from Pitch Black day 1......Day 2. pic heavy. (Darwin, Australia)
Posted: 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.
Exercise 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.
Exercise 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.
Exercise 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.
Exercise 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.
Exercise 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.
Exercise 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.
Exercise 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.
Exercise 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.
Exercise 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.
Pitch Black Day 2, first Launch by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Republic of Singapore F-16, wearing 140 SQN, special marks.
Pitch 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.
Pitch 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.
Pitch 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.
Pitch Black Day 2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr
One of 6 Italian Navy F-35B's, off on the first mission of the day.
Pitch 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.
Exercise Pitch Black, day 2. by Rob Burns, on Flickr
17-007, Philippine air force FA-50, one of 4 sent for the exercise.
Philippines Airforce FA-50. by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Will post some more when i can.
Thanks
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.
Exercise Pitch Black - Day2. by Rob Burns, on FlickrFair 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.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrNext up was the Italians with a G550, one of the first up each day to perform its AEW duties.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrWith three missions a day it was pretty much constant military movements, next up were the Republic of Singapore F-15's.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrNext was the turn of the French, who bizarrely only sent three aircraft over, long way to go for three.
Exercise Pitch Black 2004 by Rob Burns, on FlickrAnother star for me was this Republic of Singapore G550, up early each morning, performing its AEW duties.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrPapua 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.
Exercise Pitch Black 2004 by Rob Burns, on FlickrRepublic 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.
Exercise Pitch Black by Rob Burns, on FlickrRepublic of Korea Airforce F-15K Slam Eagle, departs on day two, one of six based at Darwin for the exercise.
Exercise 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.
Pitch Black Day 2, first Launch by Rob Burns, on FlickrRepublic of Singapore F-16, wearing 140 SQN, special marks.
Pitch Black Day2 by Rob Burns, on FlickrThe Singapore Airforce also brought some F-16D's to the exercise, here is 694, departing for the first sortie of day 2.
Pitch Black Day 2 by Rob Burns, on FlickrIndonesian 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.
Pitch Black Day 2. by Rob Burns, on FlickrJoining its specially marked sister ship was TS-1641, F-16D, seen launching into the cloudless sky.
Pitch Black Day 2 by Rob Burns, on FlickrOne of 6 Italian Navy F-35B's, off on the first mission of the day.
Pitch Black day 2 by Rob Burns, on FlickrDuring 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.
Exercise Pitch Black, day 2. by Rob Burns, on Flickr 17-007, Philippine air force FA-50, one of 4 sent for the exercise.
Philippines Airforce FA-50. by Rob Burns, on FlickrWill post some more when i can.
Thanks
