VIDEO: Twisted stomach, giant cramps: Inside Ex Pitch Black

The Royal Australian Air Force has given the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Jano Gibson a unique perspective of Exercise Pitch Black from the backseat of an F/A-18B Hornet. After 3 weeks of intense flying operations, the exercise has concluded yesterday.

VIDEO: Day One Pitch Black 2012

The Royal Australian Air Force's Wing Commander David "Max" Merritt discusses the first day of Exercise Pitch Black 2012.

Meanwhile, the below photo was snapped from just outside RAAF Darwin near the end of a frenetic day of Pitch Black 2012 flying activity today. We were given a first rate tour of RAAF Darwin courtesy of the good folks over at the RAAF, and have a ton of photos to process!

VIDEO: RoKAF Black Eagles at RIAT 2012

A Youtube video by Tonkatsu298 of the Republic of Korea Air Force's Black Eagles Aerobatics team being put through their paces at this year's Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at Fairford, United Kingdom. The Black Eagles have been on a tour of the UK over the past weeks, attending the Waddington and Farnborough Air Shows with their KAI T-50 trainers in addition to RIAT.

The Black Eagles Facebook page also includes photos of their 2012 UK tour, including some air-to-air photography over the English countryside.

VIDEO: Chinese Navy Ka-28 near miss while landing in rough seas

Interesting video lifted off a Chinese TV broadcast of a Chinese Navy Kamov Ka-28 naval helicopter almost coming to grief while attempting to land on a Type 054A frigate, the Xuzhou (徐州), judging by the "530" painted on the helideck. According to the report, the ship and helicopter were from the East Sea fleet, and at the time of the initial landing attempt, surface wind speeds were 10m/s and at Sea State 3. According to the interview with the pilot in the clip, a gust of wind from the rear port quarter caught the Kamov as it came in to land, tossing the hapless helicopter (and crew) around and forcing the landing to be aborted. Two more attempts were made before the helicopter landed on the fourth attempt, after the sea had calmed down, more than an hour after the first attempt.

VIDEO: Kadena's USAF F-15s air-to-air footage in HD

This video, created to commemorate the USAF's 18th Wing's 67th Fighter Squadron winning the 2011 Raytheon Trophy for the best USAF Air to Air Fighter Squadron, is already making the rounds out among the internet aviation community. And rightly so, for the flying scenes of the F-15s from both the 67th FS "Fighting Cocks" and the 44th FS "Vampire Bats", based at Okinawa's Kadena AB, are superb.

Watch it. In HD. In fullscreen. It's worth it.

VIDEO: North Korean live firing exercise

An interesting, almost 20 minute video of a North Korean live-firing exercise involving army artillery and multiple rocket launchers, naval bombardment and airstrikes. From a military aviation perspective, some things to look out for are KPAF MiG-21s, -23s and -29s, along with Su-25s, Mi-2 and Mi-8 helicopters and An-2 biplane transports carrying a paratroop (or supply) drop. Observing the exercise was North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and a multitude of miltary brass and VIPs. Some of the footage in here is archival footage, and others seemingly repeated. Still, well worth a watch, particularly if you're interested in North Korean military hardware.

A big shout out to Tim Robinson for the heads-up!

VIDEO: Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter in Vietnamese service

Here are a couple of interesting videos on Youtube about the Sukhoi Su-22 in Vietnamese service. The Vietnamese People's Air Force (Không quân Nhân dân Việt Nam) is reported to operate up to 53 Su-22M3/UM-3K (NATO: Fitter-J and -G) and Su-22M-4/R (Fitter-K) with 2 regiments: the 923rd 'Yen The' Fighter-Bomber Regiment at Tho Xuan and the 937th 'Hua Giang' Fighter-Bomber Regiment at Phan Rang. There is something about the Soviet-era inlet and shock cone design of the MiG-21 and Su-7/17/20/22 that floats my boat.

As the VPAF continues it's modernisation drive by acquiring more multi-role Su-27/30 derivatives, these Cold War warriors will sadly fade from use.

VIDEO: Ex Kiwi Flag 2012 [HD]

Held at the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) base at Whenuapai, Exercise Kiwi Flag is a multilateral, tactical air mobility exercise which aims to improve the interoperability and partnership of the participating nations. The RNZAF is exercising with international air force partners on their way to the Air Force Air Show at Ohakea Air Base on Saturday 31 March. This video by the New Zealand Defence Force, gives us an insight into the exercise.

Countries involved in the exercise, which is based in Auckland are the French Armed Forces of New Caledonia (CASA CN235), Republic of Singapore Air Force (C-130H Hercules), Royal Australian Air Force (C-130J Hercules), the United States Air Force (C-17 Globemaster III) and the United States Marine Corps (KC-130J Hercules). The host nation is taking part with it's C-130H Hercules.

The exercise sees fixed wing tactical training comprising low level flying and airdrop of cargo and personnel to Kaipara and Raumai Air Weapons Range.

The exercise forms a key part of readiness training for the New Zealand Defence Force and its international partners and runs from March 24 to April 5.

VIDEO: [HD] F-15SE Silent Eagle South Korean marketing video

A new, HD version of a Boeing video marketing the F-15 Silent Eagle for South Korea that was shown here a while back has surfaced on Youtube. Take note of the huge one-piece MFD that dominates the cockpit that appears at 0:32 seconds of the video. Enjoy it, in its full 1080p HD glory.

VIDEO: RAAF KC-30A Tanker Refuels F/A-18B

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A aircraft are conducting air-to-air refuelling trials with RAAF F/A-18 Hornets. Commencing with the first air-to-air contact on October 18, the trials are a mixture of 'dry' and 'wet' contacts (confirming safe connections can be made and fuel transferred respectively), and are intended to provide a partial clearance for hose-and-drogue refuelling contacts with the KC-30A, expected to be declared in December 2011. The test program will then expand throughout 2012 to increase the envelope of hose-and-drogue refuelling to other conditions, as well as train additional KC-30A personnel to conduct these tasks. Initial Operational Capability, which will include the KC-30A clearance to conduct hose-and-drogue refuelling and strategic air lift missions for the Australian Defence Force, is expected in late 2012. Air Force is receiving five KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports, to be operated by No. 33 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley.

VIDEO: P-3 Orion Desert to Delivery

Lockheed-Martin's in-house video team takes us through the process of refurbishing and upgrading ex-US Navy P-3C Orions that have been stored in the desert Boneyard of Arizona. The fuselages are trucked almost 2,000 miles (3,200 km) to South Carolina where they will be mated to new wings that have been built in (relatively) nearby Georgia as part of a Mid-Life Upgrade program for the venerable Orion. In the past few years the Orion has been a popular choice in Asia with countries keen to enhance their anti-submarine and maritime patrol capabilities, with Pakistan and South Korea taking deliveries of refurbished aircraft. Taiwan has similar aircraft on order with deliveries expected in 2012, while Singapore is reportedly also interested in the type.

Eurofighter Typhoon reportedly out of Japan's F-X competition

Japan Security Watch, referencing a Nikkei news article (in Japanese only) is reporting that Japan's Ministry of Defence has eliminated the Eurofighter Typhoon from its shortlist of fighters in the running for the country's next generation F-X fighter aircraft competition. This leaves Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Lockheed-Martin's F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to vie for Japan's fighter contract.

Observers have always felt the sole European bid was a dark horse in the competition, given Japan's traditional close military and political ties to the United States. That said, one does get the feeling based on statements issued by Japanese political and military officials, that the country already has its heart set on the F-35, and that the competition was a procedural necessity.

That might explain the absence of Boeing's F-15SE Silent Eagle in the Japanese competition, whose Air Self Defence Force already operates legacy variants of the type. With the boast of advanced low-observable features (albeit less capable than the F-35) but almost certainly costing significantly less than the JSF, the Silent Eagle would have at the very least provided some competition in a head-to-head fly-off against the Lockheed-Martin product.

We leave you with a Boeing marketing video for the Silent Eagle, shown at the recently held Seoul Airshow in South Korea, taking out some (North Korean?) bad guys:

VIDEO: 16 RAAF Super Hornets over the Gold Coast

The first videos are out of the multi-ship RAAF Super Hornet flyover over South-East Queensland we mentioned here a few days ago. Here's one from @theantipop1991 of a 16-ship formation prior to the arrival of the last 4 RAAF aircraft being delivered today.

VIDEO: Chinese JH-7 fighter bomber crashes at airshow

A Chinese-built Xi'an JH-7 Flying Leopard fighter-bomber has crashed during a demonstration at an airshow in Pucheng, Shaanxi Province in northern China. A video of the crash (see embedded video above) released by CCTV, China's state broadcaster, appears to show the aircraft suddenly departing controlled flight and plunging nose-first into the ground, resulting in a fireball. One crewmember was seen to eject, reportedly with injuries, however another pilot was reported as missing. More reports from The Bangkok Post and CNN.

The JH-7 is in service with both China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF). First entering service in the 1990s, the new type replaced the elderly Harbin H-5 (Ilyushin Il-28 'Beagle' copy) and Nanchang Q-5 (Chinese built derivative of the MiG-19/Shenyang J-6). Considered a relatively limited ground attack platform powered by locally manufactured derivatives of imported Rolls-Royce Spey engines, an improved variant, the JH-7A, introduced a lighter, composite platform, new avionics and radar, precision strike capability and increased payload. 114 aircraft have been built so far and serve in the precision attack and maritime strike roles.

VIDEO: F-35B 1st Landing on USS Wasp

USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- The Navy and Marine Corps Team made naval aviation history Oct. 3 as the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) test aircraft BF-2 landed safely on USS Wasp's (LHD 1) flight deck, the first at-sea vertical landing for the Marine Corps' F-35 JSF version.

Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Fred Schenk landed BF-2 at 3:12 pm...

More on the US Navy's website

VIDEO: Aerial view of Taiwanese RF-5E, F-5F crash site

Raw video taken from a helicopter of the site of the recent crash of the Republic of China Air Force RF-5E Tigereye and F-5F Tiger II two-seat conversion trainer. More details on the crash in yesterday's report.

VIDEO: CNN tours Libya's Mitiga Airbase

1980s Soviet plane-porn alert! CNN's Nic Robertson takes us on a tour of Libya's Mitiga Airbase soon after the fall of Tripoli to Libya's rebels, including climbing into the cockpit of a derelict Mi-8, shots of other derelict Mi-8s, MiG-23s, Chinooks, various VIP transports and the show-stealer of the piece, a carcass of a Tu-22 Blinder bomber.

VIDEO: Dutch F-16s Intercept Tu-95

The Dutch military has released this video of a close encounter between the Dutch KLu's F-16s and a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-95 'Bear' maritime reconnaissance aircraft/missile carrier. This marked the fourth time this year that Dutch fighters have been scrambled to intercept Russian bombers.

The Dutch F-16s intercepted two Bears that entered Dutch airspace without identifying themselves on Aug. 17, after the Bears had been shadowed by Danish F-16s. After leaving Dutch airspace, Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons took over.

Back to the familiar scenes like this that we saw often during the Cold War, only with different interceptors, and we get JHMCS-recorded videos to gawk at these days as well.

VIDEO: F-35C first catapult launch

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, LAKEHURST, N.J. – The F-35C completed its first steam catapult launch July 27 marking another milestone toward initial ship trials in 2013.

Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch and Recovery Equipment) Brandon Barr used a TC-13 Mod 2 test steam catapult, representative of current fleet technology, launching F-35C test aircraft CF-3 into the sky...

Full press release from Naval Air Systems Command

VIDEO: Crazy low pass by Argentine Pampa trainer

Gizmodo also has exclusive video shot from the Pampa's cockpit of the pass. Totally insane!

Here's what a Pampa looks like shot from more or less the same altitude, but with a lot less forward velocity (Image Francisco Infante via Wikipedia)