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Stars Tour RAAF during ‘Pitch Black’ Exercise!

Our Nightcliff Stars had a fantastic opportunity to go on a tour of Darwin’s RAAF base during the biennial ‘Pitch Black’ exercise, held from 27 July to 17 August.

‘Pitch Black’ features a range of realistic, simulated threats that can be found in a modern battle-space environment and provides an opportunity for the RAAF improve its force integration.

The young women toured the RAAF base in style on a bus, starting at the 13 Squadron Headquarters, and then they were treated to a surprise set up just for them.

Tour guide, Warrant Officer Jason Pyke, had arranged for the girls to get up close and personal with the ‘Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey’ chaperoned by two US pilots, who gave the girls a detailed insight into being a pilot on one of these amazing aircraft. Not surprisingly, the girls had plenty of questions to ask.

During the tour, there was a lot of discussion around women in the RAAF, with Commander Parsons telling the girls about the opportunities open to women in the Air Force.

He was very passionate about getting more Indigenous women involved and it was inspiring for the girls to hear that the RAAF has so many opportunities available to them in the future.