Exercise Pitch Black 24 in pictures: Fighter jets take off from RAAF Base Darwin

Alarms clocks had competition on Monday morning as fighter jets thundered over Darwin for Exercise Pitch Black 24. See the pictures.

Harry Brill

less than 2 min read

July 15, 2024 - 1:17PM

Fighter jets takeoff from RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Pitch Black 24. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

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Early alarm clocks were blasted over by fighter jets tearing through Darwin’s morning skies, with an extensive line of combat pilots snaking around the runway, eager to duke it out.

On Monday, commuters enjoyed fighter jet entertainment on their way to work, as a long queue of multimillion-dollar airframes took off from RAAF Base Darwin as part of Exercise Pitch Black 24.

From 7am, the runway resembled something of a fighter jet catwalk, with airframe after airframe having its time in the spotlight to the delight of onlookers and jet enthusiasts admiring from a distance.

Fighter jets takeoff from RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Pitch Black 24. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Such was the volume of fighter jets dominating the runway that the occasional commercial plane appeared out of place.

Spectators at the airfield could be seen with hearing protection as the jets – even in takeoff – thundered into the sunrise to complete their respective missions.

Notable airframes included Eurofighter Typhoons, F-15E Eagles and F-35 Lightning IIs.

Exercise Pitch Black 24 – the biggest in the flying activity’s history – will continue in the coming weeks, with noise levels in Darwin and Katherine expected to fluctuate.

For jet fans yearning for a thrill, fighter jets will be conducting a fly-by of the Mindil Markets on Thursday July 18.

More than 45 airframes will take part in the fly-by, with US MV-22 Ospreys and the Italian Navy’s AV-8B Harriers to conduct special displays.

An aerobatic display by RAAF F/A 18-F Super Hornets and a special appearance by an E-7 Wedgetail – the most advanced air surveillance aircraft in the world – will also occur.