Saturday 14th June 2008
10am – 2pm
RAAF Base Darwin hosted a Base Open Day to showcase the personnel and aircraft involved in Exercise Pitch Black 08 , the Air Force’s largest and most complex Air Exercise.
It was a long walk in through the side gates (appropriately perhaps opposite Bombing Road).
The alternative was bumper to bumper driving!!
RAAF Darwin Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Noel Hinschen,is quoted as saying
opening up the Base gave the public a terrific opportunity to get a close look at the aircraft taking part in PB08 and a chance to talk with Australian and international ground crews and aircrews.
“It was also an opportunity for the Base to say a big thank you to the local community for their ongoing support,” Wing Commander Hinschen said.
Displays included static aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, the United States Marine Corp, NATO, and the French Air Force, plus hourly displays from the RAAF Military Working Dog Team.
The elderly strike reconnaissance aircraft,F111 was introduced to the RAAF in June 1973,
but its still doing good service
There were great crowds there, with families willing to queue to get a closer look
I had a great time snapping away at this event, chatted to a couple of pilots, one was 25 year old Peter "Topper" Tippner from the RAAF, who flies the F18 Hornet. (Costing $35,000,000 each!!)(See this article"A FLYING CAREER BEYOND MACH 1 giving his history!!)
and
also spoke with Major "Tyson" from the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
French NATO crew from airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft.
For further information on Exercise Pitch Black 2008 visit the Exercise Pitch Black website at: www.defence.gov.au/pitchblack08
