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Author: Posted by Mike Hughes

Angus, from the Starlight Children’s Foundation, tries on an F-35A helmet with the help of Corporal Daniel Lake, a 3 Squadron life support fitter, at the Pitch Black open day at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flying Officer Jamie Wallace. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF helps make a wish come true

02/08/202406/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1515 Views 0 Comments Community Engagement, Exercise Pitch Black, F-35A Lightning II, No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, Starlight Children’s Foundation

The Royal Australian Air Force has teamed up with international partners and the Starlight Children’s Foundation to grant the wish

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Firefighters from the Royal Air Force, RAAF and Royal New Zealand Air Force at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Annabel Francis-Jones. Photo by Aircraftwoman Campbell Latch.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

Triple the fire power on Ex Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1338 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, fire, RAAF Amberley, RAF, RNZAF

Fire fighters from the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Air Force seized the opportunity

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Air surveillance operator Corporal Mikayla Dows, of 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit, monitors the air space inside the Mobile Control Reporting Centre during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photo by Sergeant David Gibbs.
History News Royal Australian Air Force 

Bandicoot spells end for Mobile Control and Reporting Centre

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1510 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, No. 114MRCU

Tucked away behind dimly lit screens are the faces of air battle managers and air surveillance operators illuminated by battlespace

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Royal Thai Air Force pilot Squadron Leader Toranin Metananta departs RAAF Base Darwin for a sortie in a JAS-39 Gripen C during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.
News Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

RTAF celebrate 20 years at Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2106 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Darwin, Royal Thai Air Force

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is celebrating two decades of participation in Exercise Pitch Black, one of the world’s

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An Italian Navy F-35B Lightning II prepares to land on ITS Cavour while underway at sea during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

Cavour makes waves at Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1478 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Italian Navy

The Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour sailed through week two at Exercise Pitch Black 24, intent on enhancing interchangeability with

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Able Seaman Clint Selwood handles lines on HMAS Choules’ embarked light landing craft in Suva, Fiji, as part of a south-west Pacific regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Marie Davies. Photos by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
News Overseas Royal Australian Navy 

Bridging the gap between ship and shore

31/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1694 Views 0 Comments Amphibious Watercraft Squadron, Choules, HMAS Waterhen, Light Landing Craft (LLC)

Imagine being anchored off a beautiful Pacific island without wharf access, needing to transport hundreds of people, equipment and stores,

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Staff Sergeant Ian McLain from the United States Air Force monitors the E-7A Wedgetail from 2 Squadron before its next mission during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

AU UK US perspective on commanding the battlespace

31/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1397 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Pitch Black, No. 2 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Scanning the skies as part of Exercise Pitch Black is nothing new to 2 Squadron but, for this year’s activity,

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ADF People 

Icy baths and picnics with penguins all part of my job

31/07/202404/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1191 Views 0 Comments Antarctica

While the east coast experienced a chilly start to winter in recent weeks, spare a thought for Antarctic expeditioners like

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Soldiers from 5th Aviation Regiment present a safety brief to Townsville Hospital Foundation charity 'Brighter Lives' recipients on the Army-leased AW139 helicopter. Story by Captain Tadek Markowski. Photos by Gunner Ryan Kearney.
Australian Army News 

Townsville University Hospital patients’ lifted by Army helicopter flight

31/07/202406/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1105 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, Leonardo AW139 helicopter, Operation Care Bear, Townsville

“I never thought two broken arms would get me this far,” Liam said. CAPTION: Soldiers from 5th Aviation Regiment present a

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Australian Army soldiers practice offloading from a United States Army Reserve CH-47 Chinook in preparation for an insertion into the Field Training Exercise during Exercise Keris Strike in Sabah, Malaysia. Story and photo by Lieutenant Chloe Reay.
Australian Army News Overseas 

Choppers gives bombardier a lift

31/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1351 Views 0 Comments 8th/12th Regiment RAA, Exercise Keris Strike, Malaysian Armed Forces

Just outside of Kota Belud in Sabah, Malaysia, three nations gather under the banner of Exercise Keris Strike 2024. CAPTION:

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Sapper Jack Henderson, from 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, throws wood on a pile for the Garma Festival during Exercise Predator's Run in Nhulunbuy, NT. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.
Australian Army News 

Predators Run into Nhulunbuy for week of activities

31/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1066 Views 0 Comments 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Exercise Predator’s Run

For the parents and children at the Nhulunbuy Aquatic Centre, the chance to beat the soldiers in a match of

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The last M1A1 Abrams main battle tank rolled out of Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. The new Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tanks will be introduced later this year. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.
Australian Army News 

Brisbane’s last tank rolls out of Gallipoli Barracks

31/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1411 Views 0 Comments 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry), 7th Brigade, Defence Strategic Review, Gallipoli Barracks, M1A1 Abrams, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams

The last M1A1 Abrams main battle tank rolled out of Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, as Army continues its implementation of the

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Corporal Monique Jeynes and Corporal Amanda Wintle on the ramp of a RAAF C-27J Spartan prepare to airdrop supplies over the Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, as part of the Defence Pacific Air Program.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

Resupply on the Kokoda Track right on target

31/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1354 Views 0 Comments 35 Squadron, C-27J Spartan, Defence Pacific Air Program (DPAP), Kokoda Track, PNG

Though target practice is usually the preserve of Air Force’s fast jet squadrons, for members of 35 Squadron a recent

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A RAAF FA-18F Super Hornet aircraft departs RAAF Base Darwin for a night flying mission as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2024. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

Back-seat bandits on Exercise Pitch Black

30/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1177 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, F/A-18F Super Hornet, RAAF Darwin

As Exercise Pitch Black continues to play out in the Northern Territory and all eyes look towards the sky, the

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HMAS Choules personnel participate in a humanitarian and disaster relief training exercise on board the ship during a south-west Pacific regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Leesa Maroske. Photos by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
News Overseas Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Choules training for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions

30/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1303 Views 0 Comments HADR, HMAS Choules, Regional Presence Deployment

A recent humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) training exercise demonstrated HMAS Choules‘ readiness to respond to crises at home and

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The Pacific Skies 24 contingent from France, Germany and Spain at RAAF Base Darwin to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

European unity under southern skies

26/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1661 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Pacific Skies 24, RAAF Darwin

Multiple European aircraft from France, Germany and Spain have touched down in Darwin for Pacific Skies 24. CAPTION: The Pacific Skies

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Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) Aircraft Engineer Joshua Magun, of Air Transport Wing, inspects a PNGDF PAC P-750XL prior to a sortie during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

New ground for PNG forces

26/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1971 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, PNGDF

From the rugged and jungle-covered mountains of Papua New Guinea to the flat and arid terrain of northern Australia, Pacific

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Deputy Chief of Army Major General Christopher Smith, left, presents Warrant Officer Class 1 Rodney Speter with his two Federation Stars for 45 years of service. Story and photos by Warrant Officer Class 2 Andrew Hetherington.
ADF People Australian Army 

Still serving after 45 years

26/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1537 Views 0 Comments

It is not every day a soldier receives a Federation Star for 40-plus years’ service, but last month, 65-year-old Warrant

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A RAAF KC-30A multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) pilot's view of a French Airbus A330 MRTT as they attempt to connect for air-to-air refuelling during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF’s petrol station of the skies

25/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1803 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

While cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet, sitting in a comfortable over-wing seat of a modified Airbus A330, you

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Aircraftman Mausam Ghaley was born in Bhutan and spent most of his youth in a refugee camp in Nepal before fleeing to Australia with his mother.
ADF People Videos 

Through adversity to the stars

25/07/202425/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2029 Views 0 Comments

Aircraftman Mausam Ghaley grew up in a refugee camp after fleeing his home country, Bhutan. Fifteen years since settling in

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