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Unloading of the equipment and troops takes place at Curtin Air Movements
28 July 2006

Exercise Pitch Black 2006, the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) largest exercise, will be conducted from 28 July 2006 until 18 August 2006. Conducted on a biennial basis, this year's exercise will be conducted in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Exercise Pitch Black 2006 will provide an important opportunity for the men and women of the RAAF to train with a multinational force that will include Air Force representatives from France, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The scenario for this exercise will focus on both the operational and tactical levels of air warfare, as well as providing RAAF personnel with a valuable learning experience in a multinational environment. The exercise will have three areas of operation: Blueland with its major forward operating base located at RAAF Bases Darwin and Curtin, and Redland, operating from RAAF Base Tindal.

20060725adf8157095_0019
Corporal James W Reilly (back) and Leading Aircraftman James D Reilly (front), both from No. 1 Combat Communications Squadron tracking an Aircraft that is flight inspecting transportable landing aids at RAAF Curtin. Both members are Communications Electronics Technicians (CETECHS). In the background is a Mobile Elevated Communications Cabin in the role of Air traffic Control Tower for RAAF Curtin for the duration of Exercise Pitch Black.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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An F111C landing at RAAF Curtin in Northern Western Australia.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8157095_0041
Corporal David Skeels, an Explosive Detection Dog Handler, gets his dog to inspect luggage unloaded from a visiting 707 aircraft at RAAF Curtin Air Movements.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8157095_0044
A RAAF 707 Aircraft bringing troops and equipment to RAAF Base Curtin. Unloading of the equipment and troops takes place at Curtin Air Movements.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8157095_0050
A RAAF 707 Aircraft bringing troops and equipment to RAAF Base Curtin. Unloading of the equipment and troops takes place at Curtin Air Movements.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8157095_0062
A RAAF 707 Aircraft bringing troops and equipment to RAAF Base Curtin. Unloading of the equipment and troops takes place at Curtin Air Movements.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8157095_0065
A RAAF 707 Aircraft bringing troops and equipment to RAAF Base Curtin on. Unloading of the equipment and troops takes place at Curtin Air Movements.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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checking cargo from a 707 aircraft that had just arrived at RAAF Curtin.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8157095_0084
Leading Aircraftwomen Emma Taylor using a tow motor to take ground power out to a visiting 707 aircraft at Air Movements RAAF Curtin during preparations for Excercise Pitchblack 2006. Emma is from 1 Airmovements Terminal Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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Members from 44 Wing and 1 Combat Communications Squadron (1CCS) have set up a Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower and associated landing radar systems for excercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8165233_0007
Members from 44 Wing and 1 Combat Communications Squadron (1CCS) have set up a Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower and associated landing radar systems for Exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8165233_0010
Members from 44 Wing and 1 Combat Communications Squadron (1CCS) have set up a Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower and associated landing radar systems for exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
low-res | high-res

20060725adf8165233_0014
Members from 44 Wing and 1 Combat Communications Squadron (1CCS) have set up a Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower and associated landing radar systems for exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
low-res | high-res

20060725adf8165233_0016
Members from 44 Wing and 1 Combat Communications Squadron (1CCS) have set up a Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower and associated landing radar systems for exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8502859_0001
Corporal Vanderplas and Sergeant Hodgson of the Force Protection element at RAAF Curtin examine the imagery obtained by their portable XRay machine. The Machine is being used after one of the RAAF explosive detection dogs identified a bag needing further examination as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8502859_0018
The pilot of a RAAF 707 arriving at RAAF Curtin, checking engine shutdown. The 707 is carrying personnel and equipment to the base, which is one of the three staging points for Exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8502859_0024
A RAAF 707 is marshalled to its hard stand at RAAF Base Curtin. RAAF Curtin is one of the main bases for Exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8502859_0027
A RAAF 707 is marshalled to its hard stand at RAAF Base Curtin. The aircraft si carrying personnel and equipment to the base which is located in Northern Western Australia, near Derby.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8502859_0030
A RAAF 707 Aircraft carrying troops and equipment arrives at RAAF Base Curtin. The 707 is moving many of the elements involved in Exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8502859_0038
Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Taylor, from 1 Airmovements Terminal Squadron (1ATS), awaits the arrival of a RAAF 707 bringing service personnel and equipment to RAAF Curtin in Northern Western Australia.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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20060725adf8502859_0049
A "Pig" in the scrub. An F111 aircraft, which are affectionately nicknamed "Pigs" lands at RAAF Curtin. The base located near Derby in Western Australia, is one of the locations being used for Exercise Pitch Black 2006.

(Date taken: 24 July 2006)
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