Quick hop over to Australia.

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burnsy133
Posts: 1
Joined: 10 Sep 2014, 14:18

Quick hop over to Australia.

Post by burnsy133 »

Back in late June I was facing the prospect of turning 50, and despite my other half pestering me for over 12 months regarding if i wanted to go spotting somewhere for hitting the half century, here i was, sat with nothing booked. I had trawled the boards, and it was looking like RIAT or a long weekend in Tanagra for the Athens week flying. Having done RIAT virtually every year since i was 18, and the fact i attended Tanagra last year, it looked like i was going to look a gift horse in its mouth and settle for Fairford. Around the 7th July i was looking on the Scramble boards and something caught my eye, not something i hadn't noticed before...quick phone call to my other half, who not for the first time questioned my sanity, then 6 hours of trawling the net and it was booked.

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.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Next arrivals were a little more exotic and most definitely not regulars at my local.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Jostling for the exotic arrival award that morning, the Republic of Singapore Airforce sent in their entry, in the shape of 140 Sqn F-16D.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024. by Rob Burns, on Flickr

The 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.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Not to be outdone by the F-16D mob, two F-16C's from the Republic of Singapore Airforce were next to recover.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Rather surprised to see these showing on ADSB, but guess its for traffic purposes whilst operating at a civilian airport ??

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

After showing a pair of F-35's in their initial hand, the Italians decided to go all full house with 3 Typhoons.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/rob-burns/]Rob Burns[/url], on Flickr


Next 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..

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2004 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImagePitch Black 2o24 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Next back was a non too common Republic of Singapore Airforce Gulf 550.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Back to the fighter action and the Japanese decided to pitch there entry for the rarest movements with some F-2's

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Throughout the exercise, the locals took part extensively with F-35's and F-18s from the fast jet section.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Next arrivals were the Philippine airforce with their impressive KA-50's, whilst labelled as training aircraft, im not sure :-)

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 - Day 1 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Time for more rarity, as F-16BM's of the Indonesian airforce arrived back.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

The gems just kept coming, as the Royal Thai Airforce arrived back with their Gripen's.

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 Day 1 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

Turn of the Australians to recover more aircraft, this time with a special marked EA-18G's

ImageExercise Pitch Black 2024 by Rob Burns, on Flickr

And 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.
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User avatar
Alpha Kilo One
Scramble Master
Scramble Master
Posts: 4491
Joined: 25 Apr 2005, 16:17
Type of spotter: F5
Subscriber Scramble: Jein 😉

Re: Quick hop over to Australia.

Post by Alpha Kilo One »

You lucky one.
Weather ok, planes ok, diversity more than ok. Jealousy all over the place.

Enjoy !
"Nix bliev wie it es"
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seahawk12
Scramble Die-Hard
Scramble Die-Hard
Posts: 508
Joined: 27 Feb 2012, 18:12
Subscriber Scramble: seahawk12
Location: Katwijk

Re: Quick hop over to Australia.

Post by seahawk12 »

That's a very nice birthday present! All pictures nice but i like the last one the most. Thanks for sharing.
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