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Exercise Pitch Black Day 3 & 4 (Darwin, Australia)

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burnsy133
Posts: 225
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:55 pm

Exercise Pitch Black Day 3 & 4 (Darwin, Australia)

Post by burnsy133 » Sun Nov 03, 2024 7:31 pm

After being spoilt rotten on Day 2, I headed on on day 3 at daybreak, having shot the majority of the participants and not wanting the same shots over and over, I stayed quiet mobile on Day 3, some map studying and good old google maps allowed for the following shots be be had.

Republic of Singapore Air Force KC-30, arriving back after tanking duties.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Awkward time of day for this arrival, sun was right down the nose, but being where i was, I shot away regardless.

ImagePitch Black 2004 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Positioning into Darwin after tanking F-22's from Japan to Tindal AFB, (YPTN), 58-0134, KC-135 from Kadena AFB, Japan.

ImagePitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImagePitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

RTB for this Italian Air Force EF-2000, recovering just before Sunset.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImagePitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

RAAF F-18 Banking hard right for Runway 11.

ImagePitch Back Day 2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Last rays of the day saw the RAAF on finals for Runway 11, whilst AIr North Embraer, departs.

ImagePitch Black Day 2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Last sunshine of the day as two Su-30's of the Indian Air Force, return to base.

ImagePitch Black Day 2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr



ImageExercise Pitch Black Day 2 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Thai Airforce JAS-39D Gripen departing Runway 11.

ImageExercise Pitch Black Day 3 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

A couple of Republic of Korea F-15 Slam Eagles, returning from morning mission on day 3.

ImageExercise Pitch Black Day 3 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

So many shots have ended up in the bin, a mixture of heat haze and a displaced threshold killed many shots.

ImageExercise Pitch Black Day 3. by Rob Burns, on Flickr

RAAF 737 A36-001 arriving runway 11, i was informed by local spotters that this was part of its fin flight.

ImageExercise Pitch Black Day 4 - Non Flying day. by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Spanish Airforce A330 seen arriving runway 11 as support for the Spanish EF-2000's that arrived for week two of the exercise.

ImageExercise Pitch Black Day 4 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

RAAF P-8A Poseidon, arriving back into Darwin after a long day in the air.

ImageExercise Pitch Black by Rob Burns, on Flickr

RAAF C-130, arriving back from Amberley, as the moon looks on.

ImageExercise Pitch Black by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Lovely light again on day 3 morning, as this special machine departed, with this in the air, i had finally seen F-18's from all operators, the RMAF being the missing piece of the jigsaw for many years.

Imagermaf F-18 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Although not as photogenic as the departures, the mixture of aircraft led to some very random parings for the run and breaks.

ImageFirst day returns (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Indian Airforce Su-30 getting it oh so wrong, well left of the centreline and resulted in a go-around.

ImageSU-30- by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Lots of new hardware, lots of rare hardware...but only one winner for me.....

ImageMM7201 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr

RAAF F-18 in special marks, showing Australian and USN serials.

ImageMM7201 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr

I have not been many places in the world that a F-35 is cleared to land after the departing 737.

Imagef35 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr

You wait for a returning RAAF F-18, then three come at once !

Imagef18 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr

The setting sun made for some arty shots, not everyone's cup of tea, but 3 x SU-30's recovering with a F-18, just had to shoot.

ImageSU30 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr

And that was its for the day, until I was made aware of the ITS Cavour, which was anchored in Darwin for a 'celebration', knowing there was a NH-90 and a AV-8 left on board, the 15 minute journey was made.

Imagecarrier (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr

If you still looking by here thanks, one more set to come as i visited the 'Sunset Airshow' at Mindil beech, where a selection of the participants from Pitch Black treated the locals to a hour long fly past, at sun-set.

Cheers

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teeonefixer
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Location: East Yorkshire

Re: Exercise Pitch Black Day 3 & 4 (Darwin, Australia)

Post by teeonefixer » Sun Nov 03, 2024 11:25 pm

Thanks Rob, they are stunning!

slogen51
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Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

Re: Exercise Pitch Black Day 3 & 4 (Darwin, Australia)

Post by slogen51 » Mon Nov 04, 2024 7:01 am

Both sets are really stunning and a delight to see so many rarities

What are the authorities Ike regarding military spotting in Australia, I heard they can be pretty negative?

burnsy133
Posts: 225
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:55 pm

Re: Exercise Pitch Black Day 3 & 4 (Darwin, Australia)

Post by burnsy133 » Mon Nov 04, 2024 10:19 am

slogen51 wrote:
Mon Nov 04, 2024 7:01 am
Both sets are really stunning and a delight to see so many rarities

What are the authorities Ike regarding military spotting in Australia, I heard they can be pretty negative?
Thanks Slogan, If you read some of the posts coming out of the forums before the exercise, It was certainly a worry. In reality they were brilliant, the only thing I was advised against was taking shots of Infrastructure. I never saw it myself, but they apparently delete any shots with buildings in. Only on one occasion was I approached by the local police who politely asked what i was doing , sat in the car when it was 32oC outside, explaining it looked suspicious, i explained i had the aircon on full as it was way too hot, to which he looked disgusted, aircon at 32oC!

Other than that, Many patrols came and went, most letting on. One of the local spotters did mention that they have there hands so full with 'locals' that we would be left alone, and thats how it was.

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DanBeeden
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Location: Short finals

Re: Exercise Pitch Black Day 3 & 4 (Darwin, Australia)

Post by DanBeeden » Mon Nov 04, 2024 9:45 pm

Terrific shots and a good editorial to accompany them.

ewddie
Posts: 123
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 5:13 pm

Re: Exercise Pitch Black Day 3 & 4 (Darwin, Australia)

Post by ewddie » Tue Nov 05, 2024 10:21 am

Brilliant coverage of this distant event with some stunning shots and pace notes that really brought out the heat challenge up in NT. After this epic trip you’ll be up for Avalon next year now!
Many thanks for sharing the experience.

matt e
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Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:00 pm

Re: Exercise Pitch Black Day 3 & 4 (Darwin, Australia)

Post by matt e » Fri Nov 15, 2024 11:23 am

Nice set especially the sunset shots

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