RAAF Darwin Archives - CONTACT magazine

Flying Officer James Madden in his role as Air Traffic Controller at Darwin Airport. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dion Isaacson.

Childhood dream realised

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 556 Views 0 Comments No. 452 Squadron, RAAF Darwin

James Madden has dreamed of controlling the skies since childhood. CAPTION: Flying Officer James Madden in his role as Air

Flight Lieutenant Brittany Knowles in her role as air traffic controller in Darwin. Story by John Noble.

ADF People

Landing her perfect job

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 535 Views 1 Comment No. 452 Squadron, RAAF Darwin

“The best job in the world” is how Flight Lieutenant Brittany Knowles describes her role as an air traffic controller

A US Air Force pilot prepares to exit an F-15C Eagle from 67th Fighter Squadron at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 2022. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

US infrastructure crucial to Ex Pitch Black

05/10/202209/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 904 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, P-8A Poseidon, RAAF Darwin, US Air Force

More aircraft took to the skies in Exercise Pitch Black from RAAF Base Darwin throughout August and September thanks to

Royal Australian Air Force Corporal Simone Menzel, a medical technician from No. 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 2022. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Winnall. Photo by Corporal Kylie Gibson.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Medical team ready to respond

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 720 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, French Air and Space Force, No. 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, RAAF Darwin

No. 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron have been well-equipped to provide emergency medical service to the 16 visiting nations at Exercise

RAAF ground support equipment technician Corporal James Harding, left, and Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft arrestor systems technician Corporal Evan Barbeau maintain a BAK arrestor arm. Flight Lieutenant Jessica Winnall. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Stopping jets in their tracks

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 579 Views 0 Comments canada, Exercise Pitch Black, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, Royal Canadian Air Force

With the influx of fast jets from around the world at Exercise Pitch Black, the mechanical equipment operations and maintenance

RAAF Leading Aircraftman Thomas Clarke-Kelly, right, and UK Royal Air Force Air Specialist Class One Declan McTrusty, centre, work together to refuel a Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG Eagle aircraft. Story by Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

News Royal Australian Air Force UK

Fuel on demand and on time

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 522 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Darwin, RAF

Nearly a hundred aircraft have been flying in and out of RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Pitch Black and the one

Craftsman Amber Toner, left, and Craftsman Cameron Powell, from 1st Aviation Regiment, with Emily and Oliver Taaffe and a 70mm rocket from the Tiger helicopter during the Exercise Pitch Black open day at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Winnall. Photo by Corporal Kylie Gibson.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

Up close with personnel and their flying machines

07/09/202207/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 522 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, F-35A Lightning II, Open Day RAAF Darwin, RAAF Darwin

Crowds have flocked to see aircraft and meet personnel from Australian and international air forces at the Exercise Pitch Black

A RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft performs an aerial display during the Pitch Black Flypast over Mindil Beach, Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Winnall. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA Videos

Pitch Black flypasts wow crowds in Darwin

31/08/202203/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1535 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, MV-22 Osprey, RAAF Darwin

Thousands of people attended the Pitch Black flypast at Mindil Beach in Darwin, with multinational aircraft putting on an hour-long

An Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft during Exercise Arnhem Thunder, held at RAAF Base Darwin, Northern Territory. Story by Flight Lieutenant Bronwyn Marchant. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Stewart Gould.

News Royal Australian Air Force

A forecast of Lightning for Pitch Black

12/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 844 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, F-35A Lightning II, No. 3 Squadron, No. 75, RAAF Darwin

Dominating the skies of the Northern Territory, the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II will participate in Exercise

A United States Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber aircraft prepares to refuel from a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft over the Northern Territory. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin and Flight Lieutenant Marina Power. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miller.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

US Lancers sweep into the Top End

09/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1055 Views 0 Comments B-1B Lancer, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, US Air Force

A pair of United States Air Force (USAF) B-1B Lancer bombers recently swept into the skies of the Northern Territory.

Air Commodore Christopher "Noddy" Sawade, left, with Air Commodore Michael "Micka" Gray at the Air Show Team Handover Ceremony at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.

ADF People

There’s a new show in town

29/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1213 Views 0 Comments Air Show, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Reserve

After a long and successful stint as the Head of Air Shows, Air Commodore Christopher ‘Noddy’ Sawade handed over command

US Marines with 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Ground Combat Element, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin load an MV-22 Osprey during an airfield seizure event at RAAF Base Darwin as part of Exercise Koolendong 2022. Story by Lieutenant Gordon Carr-Gregg. Photo by Corporal Cedar Barnes.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Koolendong strengthens Aust/US partnership

29/07/202203/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1392 Views 1 Comment Exercise Koolendong, F-35A Lightning II, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, RAAF Curtin, RAAF Darwin

More than 2200 personnel from the Australian Defence Force and US armed forces recently conducted Exercise Koolendong 2022, a combined

Air Surveillance Operator Sergeant Jayne Francis monitors the exercise airspace inside an operations cabin with aviators from No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Robert Hodgson. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Combat controllers add an extra set of eyes

02/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 792 Views 0 Comments Exercise Diamond Storm, No. 114MRCU, No. 3 CRU, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Williamtown

In the complex and congested battlespaces of Exercise Diamond Storm, aircrew relied on tactical command and control units to provide

F-35A Lightning II aircraft in the ordnance loading area at RAAF Base Darwin. Photo by Adam Abela.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Exercise Pitch Black returns to the Top End

02/07/202202/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 793 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal

Australian and international military aircraft will once again return to the Northern Territory skies for Exercise Pitch Black from August

Royal Australian Air Force military working dog handler Leading Aircraftwoman Taylah Cole greets an Australian Federal Police working dog and her handler at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Collaborative effort keeps Diamond secure

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 936 Views 0 Comments Exercise Diamond Storm, Military Working Dogs, RAAF Darwin

Working with Northern Territory Police Force and Australian Federal Police officers, Air Force security forces (SECFOR) used transportable closed-circuit television

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning ll departs from RAAF Base Tindal during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miller.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes friend and foe in Storm

24/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1046 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, Exercise Diamond Storm, F-35A Lightning II, Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal

The ‘enemy’ enjoyed an advantage on Exercise Diamond Storm 22, with No. 75 Squadron flying F-35A Lightning II aircraft from

Aircraftman Samuel Forsberg from No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit, checks the AN/TPS-77 Tactical Air Defence Radar System antennas at Timber Creek during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Story by Flight Lieutenant Robert Hodgson. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miiller.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Control and reporting units complete the picture

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 788 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, Exercise Diamond Storm, No. 114MRCU, No. 3 CRU, No. 41 Wing, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Williamtown

In the complex and congested battlespaces of Exercise Diamond Storm 22, aircrew rely on tactical command and control units to

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft departs RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Night flights finish for Exercise Diamond Storm

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 883 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, E-7A Wedgetail, EA-18G Growler, Exercise Diamond Storm, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal

Over the last two weeks, Air Force aviators successfully completed the day and night flying elements of Exercise Diamond Storm

Mr Les Huddlestone, left, Mr James Parfitt from Larrakia Nation, Wing Commander Jim Collisson, Flight Lieutenant Norm Grogan and Mr Trent Lee from Larrakia Nation. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.

ADF People History

The power of a cuppa and a yarn

03/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 972 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin

RAAF Base Darwin’s No.13 Squadron (City of Darwin) marked the start of National Reconciliation Week 2022 with the Larrakia People

F-35A Lightning II aircraft from No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit fly over the Northern Territory during Exercise Rogue Ambush 21-1. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Aldred and Flight Lieutenant Bronwyn Marchant. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Next generation of Top Guns to strike in Top End Storm

26/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1463 Views 0 Comments Delamere Air Weapons Range, Exercise Diamond Storm, F-35A Lightning II, P-8A Poseidon, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal

The Royal Australian Air Force’s Exercise Diamond Storm 22 will be held in the skies above the Northern Territory from

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