6 days later i was leaving Manchester on the new Juneyao service, to Shanghai, quick change to Juneyao's Bali service, then a short hop over to Darwin, yep you read right, I had decided to pop down to Australia for a bi-annual exercise by the name of Pitch Black.
Still kind of pinching myself (with this being the longest solo trip i had undertaken (no mates could join me due to how late i left it) the following we taken of the recoveries for Day 1, Mission 1.
Had to giggle when the first arrival was a pair of 11Sqn Typhoons, 8500 miles from home and the first thing I shoot is from my local.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrNext arrivals were a little more exotic and most definitely not regulars at my local.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr 
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrJostling for the exotic arrival award that morning, the Republic of Singapore Airforce sent in their entry, in the shape of 140 Sqn F-16D.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr 
Exercise Pitch Black 2024. by Rob Burns, on FlickrThe next two Singaporian F-16's decided to give some of the limelight to 2 x Italian Navy F-35's, with a smart run and break.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrNot to be outdone by the F-16D mob, two F-16C's from the Republic of Singapore Airforce were next to recover.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrRather surprised to see these showing on ADSB, but guess its for traffic purposes whilst operating at a civilian airport ??
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrAfter showing a pair of F-35's in their initial hand, the Italians decided to go all full house with 3 Typhoons.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/rob-burns/]Rob Burns[/url], on FlickrNext up, it was time for the Indians to come to the party, so many types they could have sent, but they decided on SU-30's...not being one to complain i accepted there efforts, even if they were slightly high on the approach, leaving this with the best i could do..
Exercise Pitch Black 2004 by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Pitch Black 2o24 by Rob Burns, on FlickrNext back was a non too common Republic of Singapore Airforce Gulf 550.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrBack to the fighter action and the Japanese decided to pitch there entry for the rarest movements with some F-2's
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrThroughout the exercise, the locals took part extensively with F-35's and F-18s from the fast jet section.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrNext arrivals were the Philippine airforce with their impressive KA-50's, whilst labelled as training aircraft, im not sure
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 - Day 1 by Rob Burns, on FlickrTime for more rarity, as F-16BM's of the Indonesian airforce arrived back.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrThe gems just kept coming, as the Royal Thai Airforce arrived back with their Gripen's.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 Day 1 by Rob Burns, on FlickrTurn of the Australians to recover more aircraft, this time with a special marked EA-18G's
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on FlickrAnd that concluded Moring 1, mission 1, kind of wet my appetite for what was to come for the next 5 days.
If you got this far, thanks for looking.
