Pitch Black 2016

[Jonathan Verschuuren]

Last week I visited Darwin for a few days to see some of the action of this year's episode of Pitch Black. For those interested in military aviation, a lot of very nice planes up there! Here are some of my pictures:

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/752c.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/752c.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/8312a_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/8312a_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/TS-1608e_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/TS-1608e_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/WW90-0824a_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/WW90-0824a_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/WW90-0822_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/WW90-0822_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/612_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/612_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/40308c_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/40308c_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/016_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/016_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/40305a_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/40305a_sm.jpg.html)

The Indonesians have already left, but the others are still there.
Best wishes,
Jonathan

[Grahame Hutchison]

Thanks for sharing Jonathan - low level F16s with the gear up look great.

[Kent Broadhead]

Thanks from me too - I've always liked the F16. What's the non-F16 fighter early in the thread - Sukhoi?

[Bob C]

Definitely not a Sukhoi Kent ; it's an F15SG.

[Bob C]

Absolutely brilliant photos Jonathon ; thanks for sharing.

Do you have any of R A A F types to share ?

Cheers

Bob

[Rowan McKeever]

Great pics, Jonathan, thanks!! Nice to be able to see some action, not being able to actually be there :)

[Kent Broadhead]

Definitely not a Sukhoi Kent ; it's an F15SG.

Oops, not quite up to date on my outdated 1970s metal :P

I think it may have been because the F15 was never seen as a realistic option for RAAF, and I preferred the look of the F16 to the F18 anyway, so completely forgot about the F15

[Jonathan Verschuuren]

Do you have any of R A A F types to share ?

Cheers

Bob

Sure Bob!

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/A21-35d_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/A21-35d_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/A21-57a_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/A21-57a_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/A21-29a_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/A21-29a_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/A44-202_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/A44-202_sm.jpg.html)

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/jonathanve/Dawin-PB/A44-210d_sm.jpg (http://s447.photobucket.com/user/jonathanve/media/Dawin-PB/A44-210d_sm.jpg.html)

Cheers!
Jonathan

[MarkR]

Oops, not quite up to date on my outdated 1970s metal :P

I think it may have been because the F15 was never seen as a realistic option for RAAF, and I preferred the look of the F16 to the F18 anyway, so completely forgot about the F15

Matt Hall has some interesting observations from someone who has flown both, history might have been different had we not taken the pigs.

http://flyingdownunder.southernskiesmedia.com.au/2010/10/30/episode-6-matt-hall-compares-the-f18-f15/

Love the PB pics, sure is worth the trip once to Darwin just to catch the action, not sure what the residents think of the noise.

[Greg Hyde]

Nice shots, love the head-on hornet

[Bob C]

Thanks for sharing the R A A F photos Jonathon ; they're also excellent and don't get any better.

Cheers

Bob

[Jaryd stock]

Thought I'd share a couple of my shots from Pitch Black 2016.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8300/29676220336_dc9e5bb26c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Mdoopj)USAF 14th FS F-16CM Vipers. (https://flic.kr/p/Mdoopj) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8538/29627539001_6c6c4e5a9a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/M95T8X)RSAF F-15SG Eagle (https://flic.kr/p/M95T8X) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8222/29067941034_f497c6ff71_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LhCNa9)RAAF C-17A Globemaster A41-212 (https://flic.kr/p/LhCNa9) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8428/29420425260_e2485b1cd7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LPMnro)RAAF F/A-18A Hornet's (https://flic.kr/p/LPMnro) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

[Jaryd stock]

Some more.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8623/29695188215_0b9f68fcd2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Mf4ATH)RSAF G550 AEWC (https://flic.kr/p/Mf4ATH) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8880/29695238545_7986dde0b1_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Mf4RRt)RTAF F-16UGM Viper (https://flic.kr/p/Mf4RRt) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8236/29404676680_3fda4087d1_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LNoDW9)RSAF F-15SG Strike Eagle (https://flic.kr/p/LNoDW9) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8355/29082495194_b263b545ea_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LiVoAW)RTAF F-16 UGM (https://flic.kr/p/LiVoAW) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8557/29600433832_26bc77a121_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/M6FXHs)RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet A44-210 (https://flic.kr/p/M6FXHs) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8247/29420420350_42899205b2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LPMkYJ)RSAF F-16D Spine Back Vi[per (https://flic.kr/p/LPMkYJ) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

[Jaryd stock]

https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8431/29676225076_0615336519_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/MdopP3)RAAF No 1SQN F/A-18F Super Hornet (https://flic.kr/p/MdopP3) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8587/29417840590_e53433607a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LPy877)USAF 14th Fighter Squadron 'Samuari's' (https://flic.kr/p/LPy877) by Jaryd Stock (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

[Jonathan Verschuuren]

Awesome shots Jaryd! I see you were there in the second week, I could only make it the week before, so I missed the air to air shots :-( but got the Indonesians ;-)
Cheers! Jonathan