Pitch Black 2016 wraps up

United States Air Force F-16s on the flightline at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 2016. — USAF F-16s on the flightline at RAAF Base Darwin. (Defence)

Exercise Pitch Black 2016, the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest training activity of the year, has drawn to a close with a ceremony at RAAF Base Darwin on August 19.

During the exercise, up to 80 aircraft were launched each wave to complete complex air and ground-based missions; in all, the exercise featured more than 2,800 personnel and 115 aircraft, with representatives from 10 countries.

“The beauty of Pitch Black is that we can bring everyone together in two locations and exercise in a massive piece of airspace between Darwin and Tindal,” Commander Task Unit Exercise Pitch Black 2016, Group Captain Davies, said.

“By bringing everyone together we can promote interoperability. This enhances our capabilities, allowing us to review and refine our processes.”

A feature article on Pitch Black 2016 is due to appear in the October issue of Australian Aviation.

A Royal Canadian Air Force C-130H(T) Hercules lands at Nakaroo airstrip, Bradshaw Field Training Area during Exercise Pitch Black 2016. — A Royal Canadian Air Force C-130H lands at Nakaroo airstrip. (Defence)

Personnel from the Republic of Singapore Air Force gather for a group photo at RAAF Base Darwin During Exercise Pitch Black 2016. — Group photo of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Pitch Black deployment. (Defence)

A CN-235 transport from the French Armee De L'Air taxis on the RAAF Base Darwin tarmac after a mission during Exercise Pitch Black 2016. Visible in the background is a Republic of Singapore Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker on approach to land; and a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-177 (C-17A) Globemaster III in the foreground. — A CN-235 from the French Armee De L’Air taxis at RAAF Base Darwin. (Defence)

9 Comments

paul

August 22, 2016 at 11:49 am

Great pic of the Singaporeans.Would look good at Avalon.

Fabian

August 22, 2016 at 5:33 pm

Avalon is going to be great.

paul

August 22, 2016 at 8:31 pm

Fabian,have you heard any rumors about Avalon?

Smithy

August 23, 2016 at 9:08 am

We will be lucky to get a PACAF C-17 as an international participation

Please prove me wrong Avalon organizers and i will gladly eat these words

paul

August 23, 2016 at 10:16 am

Smithy,ASDU do a great job.It wouldn’t surprise me if an F -22 and JSF come down.Both flying of course.

PAUL

August 23, 2016 at 11:46 am

The RSAF brought their F16 display team last year-which was great – would be good to see an F15SG sometime. Avalon 2019 will have an F35 for sure in RAAF markings, if one joins the Raptor for 2017 it will probably be in US markings…

Smithy

August 23, 2016 at 1:34 pm

Don’t get me wrong, i love Avalon and its always an amazing event that i will attend every two years no matter what,

Just concerned there won’t be a big drawer card next year to quench peoples thirst!

TimC69

August 26, 2016 at 1:31 pm

I enjoyed the ADF performance last year, would be great if Navy and Army had all their aircraft involved in flying displays-the Chinook didn’t display and the MRH 90 was very limited.

paul

August 29, 2016 at 6:48 am

Smithy,the USAF have supported Avalon fantastically over the years.F-22-16-15 B-1.etc.Time to be a little more thankful than saying a single C-17.I worked ther in 09-11.The logistics and hard work they put in is amazing.As tensions rise in the South China sea,im sure they will support it even better next year.Just a guess tho.

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