JPAU21JUL04ML063.JPG EX PITCH BLACK 21/07/2004 Photo by Corporal Michelle Lucraft Pic: 3 Squadron ground crews complete after flight checks on their F/A-18 Hornets on the RAAF Base Darwin flightline. Multi-national aircraft perform take-off and landing procedures while operating in Exercise Pitch Black 04. These manoeuvres were captured during both day and night sorties out of RAAF Base Darwin. Participating aircraft are the F/A-18 Hornet from Australia, Mirage 2000-5 from France, and F-16 Falcons from Thailand and Singapore. Deep Caption: Exercise Pitch Black 2004 (EX PB04), which runs from 18 Jul 04 until 6 Aug 04 is the Royal Australian Air Force?s (RAAF) largest exercise in 2004 and will provide exercise participants with high complexity Air Combat training opportunities. EX PB04 involves aircraft and personnel from the Royal Thai Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the French Air Force, the RAAF and some Australian Army units. RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory will host approximately 1000 and 700 participants respectively during the exercise. A small number of staff from the Royal Air Force are also participating in the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC). EX PB04 provides vital training for pilots and ground crew. It also tests Air Force's procedures for deploying away from home bases and its interoperability with other air forces.

JPAU02AUG04ML074.JPG EX PITCH BLACK 02/08/2004 Photo by Corporal Michelle Lucraft Pic: Flight Lieutenant Bryce Soloman a pilot and Leading Aircraftman Lee Skipworth an Aircraft Technician from 77Squadron RAAF Base Williamtown, performing post flight operations at RAAF base Darwin on Exercise Pitch Black 2004. Deep Caption: Exercise Pitch Black 2004 (EX PB04), which runs from 18 Jul 04 until 6 Aug 04 is the Royal Australian Air Force?s (RAAF) largest exercise in 2004 and will provide exercise participants with high complexity Air Combat training opportunities. EX PB04 involves aircraft and personnel from the Royal Thai Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the French Air Force, the RAAF and some Australian Army units. RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory will host approximately 1000 and 700 participants respectively during the exercise. A small number of staff from the Royal Air Force are also participating in the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC). EX PB04 provides vital training for pilots and ground crew. It also tests Air Force's procedures for deploying away from home bases and its interoperability with other air forces.