June 14, 2026 • 9 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining me live in the studio is air Commodore Mecca Gray,
the head of air Shows.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Good morning to you, Mega morning Katie.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Great to be back in the territory.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Wonderful to have you back in the studio. I think
this is probably the third time we've caught up.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
It is. Yeah, yeah, well.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Yeah, regular exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Now tell me first off, let's talk about the open Day.
We know that there is the release of tickets for
the RAF Darwin Open Day. Tell us a little bit
more about when this is happening and what people can expect.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah, So the raft and Open Day is our big
community engagement event for pitch Black. Allows people to come
onto the base, out of the Air Force space and
see all the Australian about all the international aircraft that
are on display there. So non flying, but they'll will
be able to on display. People can walk around, get photos,
talk to the crews. The air and ground crewise magnificent.
Those people have been there before. It's just great. It
(00:50):
allows people to connect with what we're doing and ask
all those questions about why is the Air Force here
and do one? Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
People love this open day, don't they.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah? Yeah, So tickets are going live today about up midday.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, now I understand.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
There's already quite a bit of talk on social media.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
It's about these tickets, Sarah. It doesn't have to be capped.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Yeah, we do need to control the numbers just so
it's a good experience for everyone. Different to last year.
We're doing parking rides from the showgrounds and from Hidden
Valley Raceway. Okay, so we know walk in, no parking,
just outside the basin walking in. That's for safety crossing
the roads, et cetera. So that's the key thing for
those we here last time. Parking rides. But we've got
lots of buses and we've got a good plan. We've
also got a morning and afternoon sessions, just to break
(01:31):
that down again, so people can elect when they're getting
their tickets, they'll see a morning waver an afternoon. The
tickets are free, but we need need everyone, including the kids,
to get tickets so we know how many buses and seats,
et cetera.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
And I mean you touched on this before.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Obviously people are going to be able to get out there,
they're going to be able to see the aircraft, they're
going to be able to speak to you, to different
people and is that sort of what it's all about,
because I know that pitch black you know, sometimes people
can get a little bit frustrated about the noise and
you know about the jets flying over. But it's that
what it's all about, making people aware and educating them
as to why this exercise happens.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, definitely. You know Australia, Australian public support the military
really well. You know, we're an important part. We're part
of the community. You know, we just do a different job.
But it's really important that people understand and connect with that.
So you know, seeing the people in the aircraft up
clip is really what it's about, because we just don't
want to be that aircraft taking off and come back
an hour later. Yeah, we want people to understand, ask
those questions and see the equipment. But the open day
(02:24):
here at the dam for Pitchlaker is un need because
it's all the international aircraft they're on the exercise. There's
not many exercises around the world that do an open
day in the middle of that. But we think it's
important to engage with the people and bring them out
and so they can see it all firsthand.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
How different some of the aircraft that you see, you know,
from us here in Australia to some of the other nations.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, there's some of the European countries are coming. We've
got the typhoon fighter so we don't have that, we
have their thirty five's Fateens, but the Germans and the
Spanish with typhoons, so they're unique. You know, people don't
normally see them here.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
They what are they like?
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Basically just a different fighter every year crafters, you know,
slightly different designs, do the same role. But it's great.
But what it does is when we're in the actual exercise,
you're fighting with a different aircraft either on your side
or against and then seeing their strengths and weaknesses and
how you can manipulate that.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah right, I mean, look, it must be fun being
up in the air.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
And being able to be part of those exercises. But
it is all part of, you know, of a greater
importance really.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
As well, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah, definitely. It's at the tactical level, it's all about
understanding you know, your wingmen and your formation, their strengths
and others. But it's that strategic thing of you know,
friends and partners coming together, learning how to work together
in our uncertain world.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yep, now we could tell me.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I know that The absolute fan favorish as well is
the Pitch Black flying display. Now you oversee all of that,
don't you.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah, we do the two events for the community. We
do the open day we just spoke about, but also
the Mineral Beach Flying Display. So that's basically Darwin's mini
airshow and it's own right on the Thursday twenty third
of July the Minal Beach Markets.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
So Thursday twenty third of tight what can.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
People so from five o'clock until six point thirty, just
for sunset, we'll have about twenty aircraft on display, so
they'll be fly throughs from the big tanker aircraft, the
air refueling aircraft, the fighters overhead, and then some aerobatic
displays showing their whole maneuvers from our Australian Air Force aircraft.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
And is it different to what it was last time?
Do you have to mix things up a bit?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
What do you do? It'll be similar. Crowd favorites the Osprey,
the tilt Rota that Darwin is very familiar with because
they hear a lot. Are they're great, you know, cooler cooler,
crowd down with a bit of water spray on the beach.
But you know, just seeing those aircraft and when we
have the tanker aircraft, they're basically big air of us
tanking with the fighters behind them simulating their refueling.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
That's something.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
That's what it looks like, you know, that's what we
do in the air when you're pulling up and making
contact with another aircraft.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yeah, it's pretty wild. You know what you're able to do.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So tell me in terms of that on the Thursday,
the twenty third, people will obviously be able to get
to Mindle to watch it. Is it going to be
expanded a little bit this year in terms of where
you can view it from.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yeah, so the main air will be Mindled down the beach,
but we're going to fly the air in from up north.
So people if they just want to go down and
watch some fly pass up at nightcliff cliffs and they'll
see the fighter aircraft come pass there. So no, we're
about at displace, but you know, great opportunity for the
locals there just to wander down the end of the street,
look on the cliffs and see us go park.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
That's cool for people in that area is nah.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, we had a bit of feedback last time saying
can we just do that, So we just expanded the
flying route. Minda will be busy, no doubt about it.
The parking down there is, you know, and it's a
major draw card event. So as we get closer, we'll
talk more. But really, after about four o'clock, we think
those car parks we fall so park and walk in
and for the people in the city, I expect those
traffic delays outbound as well.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
And I know, and I touched on this before.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I know this year, I don't know why, but there's
been a few people sort of criticizing the noise that
they hear when the exercise is underway. But you know,
even from what you and I are talking about this morning,
it really does seem to me like, you know, you
guys want to be part of the community. You want
to give back to the community as well once the
exercise is finished, so that you know, so that everybody
realizes that grateful. You understand that it is a bit noisy,
(06:03):
but you know that you're grateful that you're able to
actually be part of this here in the Northern Territory
in a wonderful community.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, definitely, you know, and we understand that. You know,
if you're with kids and shift workers and all those things.
So jat Aircraft aren't noisy. There's no getting away from that.
But it's important and essential training and it has to
be done out of Darw And some of the fighters
are at Kindle, but they can't all operate down at
Tindle at Catherine, so you know, Darwin has that. But
for your listeners as please know it's essential training. We're
very aware of it. But when you can see and
(06:32):
understand what we do, when you what says aircraft and
it's not just some faceless people, you actually understand that
it's important and ask all those questions that connects us
with the community.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Mecca, tell me where can people go to maybe get
their hands on a ticket for the open day, because
I know lots of people listening this morning are going
to be like, oh, midday today, what do I need
to do?
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Yeah? So just done about an hour and a half away.
So if you just search up Pitch Black twenty twenty
six Open Day, the ticket links will come up either
through their dot gov site for pitchback or try booking.
Is the ticket thing? The tickets are free. It's a
good thing, but we do need everyone to buy tickets,
including for the young kids. As I said, so we've
got enough seats on buses, and we know how many
(07:12):
people are coming for safety, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Are you expecting record numbers both of these events, because
I reckon you might have.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Well, we've done a lot of thought on how many
we can accommodate to give a good experience. With one,
we've got to keep of buses. We've got multiple bus
lading points, so we're trying to make that whole thing
is as smooth as possible. But it'll be a busy day.
But you know, last time I've got there's great photos
online all the things, the people wanting around kids, big kids,
you knowlt kids.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah, do you reckon? People are going to come here
from other parts of Australia as well for these air shots.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yeah, we had that last time we tracked all the
ticket things. It was people from Victoria. Well yeah, you know,
people up on their caravan and camping trips and oh cool. Yeah,
I spoke to people down at the markets and oh
yeah we're here. You know, that's great, that's why we
come up.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
It's interesting isn't it.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Do you know that we capitalize on that marketing as
much as we could, you know, from a tourism perspective.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
But when you sort of.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Look at you know, at the way that this happens
in the Northern Territory and it's quite a unique thing.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, definitely, Yeah, I mean, you know, non Territory is unique.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
I love it, you know, I don't leave you a
bit every time I come back. I think it's just magnificent.
So you know, it's that, you know, the town and
the community, but it's also seeing all the visitors here
and such a breadth from not only Strabay, around the
world and we had people from around the world last
time coming in.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah. How cool. Well, Kathleen, my producers just said as well,
there's plane watchers taking photos at the empty block across
from Bunnings as well.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
And that's great. We encourage it, you know, you know,
near the airport on just outside bunning Set, but also
at the other end.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
On Amy Johnson and Johnson.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah. Yeah, that's a great you know, that's huge area there.
You depending which runways and ushul either see them land
or take off throughout the whole exercise.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah, yeah, no, it's always really interesting. Well, Meka. Always
great to catch up with you.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I'm sure we'll probably catch up with you again as well,
before that actual before the display gets underway.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
But really good to speak with you this morning.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Air Commodore Mikah Gray, the head of the Air Force Shows,
thank you so much for your thanks.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Thank you
Joining me live in the studio is air Commodore Mecca Gray,
the head of air Shows.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Good morning to you, Mega morning Katie.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Great to be back in the territory.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Wonderful to have you back in the studio. I think
this is probably the third time we've caught up.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
It is. Yeah, yeah, well.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Yeah, regular exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Now tell me first off, let's talk about the open Day.
We know that there is the release of tickets for
the RAF Darwin Open Day. Tell us a little bit
more about when this is happening and what people can expect.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah, So the raft and Open Day is our big
community engagement event for pitch Black. Allows people to come
onto the base, out of the Air Force space and
see all the Australian about all the international aircraft that
are on display there. So non flying, but they'll will
be able to on display. People can walk around, get photos,
talk to the crews. The air and ground crewise magnificent.
Those people have been there before. It's just great. It
(00:50):
allows people to connect with what we're doing and ask
all those questions about why is the Air Force here
and do one? Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
People love this open day, don't they.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah? Yeah, So tickets are going live today about up midday.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, now I understand.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
There's already quite a bit of talk on social media.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
It's about these tickets, Sarah. It doesn't have to be capped.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Yeah, we do need to control the numbers just so
it's a good experience for everyone. Different to last year.
We're doing parking rides from the showgrounds and from Hidden
Valley Raceway. Okay, so we know walk in, no parking,
just outside the basin walking in. That's for safety crossing
the roads, et cetera. So that's the key thing for
those we here last time. Parking rides. But we've got
lots of buses and we've got a good plan. We've
also got a morning and afternoon sessions, just to break
(01:31):
that down again, so people can elect when they're getting
their tickets, they'll see a morning waver an afternoon. The
tickets are free, but we need need everyone, including the kids,
to get tickets so we know how many buses and seats,
et cetera.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
And I mean you touched on this before.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Obviously people are going to be able to get out there,
they're going to be able to see the aircraft, they're
going to be able to speak to you, to different
people and is that sort of what it's all about,
because I know that pitch black you know, sometimes people
can get a little bit frustrated about the noise and
you know about the jets flying over. But it's that
what it's all about, making people aware and educating them
as to why this exercise happens.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, definitely. You know Australia, Australian public support the military
really well. You know, we're an important part. We're part
of the community. You know, we just do a different job.
But it's really important that people understand and connect with that.
So you know, seeing the people in the aircraft up
clip is really what it's about, because we just don't
want to be that aircraft taking off and come back
an hour later. Yeah, we want people to understand, ask
those questions and see the equipment. But the open day
(02:24):
here at the dam for Pitchlaker is un need because
it's all the international aircraft they're on the exercise. There's
not many exercises around the world that do an open
day in the middle of that. But we think it's
important to engage with the people and bring them out
and so they can see it all firsthand.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
How different some of the aircraft that you see, you know,
from us here in Australia to some of the other nations.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, there's some of the European countries are coming. We've
got the typhoon fighter so we don't have that, we
have their thirty five's Fateens, but the Germans and the
Spanish with typhoons, so they're unique. You know, people don't
normally see them here.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
They what are they like?
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Basically just a different fighter every year crafters, you know,
slightly different designs, do the same role. But it's great.
But what it does is when we're in the actual exercise,
you're fighting with a different aircraft either on your side
or against and then seeing their strengths and weaknesses and
how you can manipulate that.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah right, I mean, look, it must be fun being
up in the air.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
And being able to be part of those exercises. But
it is all part of, you know, of a greater
importance really.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
As well, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah, definitely. It's at the tactical level, it's all about
understanding you know, your wingmen and your formation, their strengths
and others. But it's that strategic thing of you know,
friends and partners coming together, learning how to work together
in our uncertain world.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yep, now we could tell me.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I know that The absolute fan favorish as well is
the Pitch Black flying display. Now you oversee all of that,
don't you.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah, we do the two events for the community. We
do the open day we just spoke about, but also
the Mineral Beach Flying Display. So that's basically Darwin's mini
airshow and it's own right on the Thursday twenty third
of July the Minal Beach Markets.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
So Thursday twenty third of tight what can.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
People so from five o'clock until six point thirty, just
for sunset, we'll have about twenty aircraft on display, so
they'll be fly throughs from the big tanker aircraft, the
air refueling aircraft, the fighters overhead, and then some aerobatic
displays showing their whole maneuvers from our Australian Air Force aircraft.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
And is it different to what it was last time?
Do you have to mix things up a bit?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
What do you do? It'll be similar. Crowd favorites the Osprey,
the tilt Rota that Darwin is very familiar with because
they hear a lot. Are they're great, you know, cooler cooler,
crowd down with a bit of water spray on the beach.
But you know, just seeing those aircraft and when we
have the tanker aircraft, they're basically big air of us
tanking with the fighters behind them simulating their refueling.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
That's something.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
That's what it looks like, you know, that's what we
do in the air when you're pulling up and making
contact with another aircraft.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yeah, it's pretty wild. You know what you're able to do.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So tell me in terms of that on the Thursday,
the twenty third, people will obviously be able to get
to Mindle to watch it. Is it going to be
expanded a little bit this year in terms of where
you can view it from.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yeah, so the main air will be Mindled down the beach,
but we're going to fly the air in from up north.
So people if they just want to go down and
watch some fly pass up at nightcliff cliffs and they'll
see the fighter aircraft come pass there. So no, we're
about at displace, but you know, great opportunity for the
locals there just to wander down the end of the street,
look on the cliffs and see us go park.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
That's cool for people in that area is nah.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, we had a bit of feedback last time saying
can we just do that, So we just expanded the
flying route. Minda will be busy, no doubt about it.
The parking down there is, you know, and it's a
major draw card event. So as we get closer, we'll
talk more. But really, after about four o'clock, we think
those car parks we fall so park and walk in
and for the people in the city, I expect those
traffic delays outbound as well.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
And I know, and I touched on this before.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I know this year, I don't know why, but there's
been a few people sort of criticizing the noise that
they hear when the exercise is underway. But you know,
even from what you and I are talking about this morning,
it really does seem to me like, you know, you
guys want to be part of the community. You want
to give back to the community as well once the
exercise is finished, so that you know, so that everybody
realizes that grateful. You understand that it is a bit noisy,
(06:03):
but you know that you're grateful that you're able to
actually be part of this here in the Northern Territory
in a wonderful community.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, definitely, you know, and we understand that. You know,
if you're with kids and shift workers and all those things.
So jat Aircraft aren't noisy. There's no getting away from that.
But it's important and essential training and it has to
be done out of Darw And some of the fighters
are at Kindle, but they can't all operate down at
Tindle at Catherine, so you know, Darwin has that. But
for your listeners as please know it's essential training. We're
very aware of it. But when you can see and
(06:32):
understand what we do, when you what says aircraft and
it's not just some faceless people, you actually understand that
it's important and ask all those questions that connects us
with the community.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Mecca, tell me where can people go to maybe get
their hands on a ticket for the open day, because
I know lots of people listening this morning are going
to be like, oh, midday today, what do I need
to do?
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Yeah? So just done about an hour and a half away.
So if you just search up Pitch Black twenty twenty
six Open Day, the ticket links will come up either
through their dot gov site for pitchback or try booking.
Is the ticket thing? The tickets are free. It's a
good thing, but we do need everyone to buy tickets,
including for the young kids. As I said, so we've
got enough seats on buses, and we know how many
(07:12):
people are coming for safety, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Are you expecting record numbers both of these events, because
I reckon you might have.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Well, we've done a lot of thought on how many
we can accommodate to give a good experience. With one,
we've got to keep of buses. We've got multiple bus
lading points, so we're trying to make that whole thing
is as smooth as possible. But it'll be a busy day.
But you know, last time I've got there's great photos
online all the things, the people wanting around kids, big kids,
you knowlt kids.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah, do you reckon? People are going to come here
from other parts of Australia as well for these air shots.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yeah, we had that last time we tracked all the
ticket things. It was people from Victoria. Well yeah, you know,
people up on their caravan and camping trips and oh cool. Yeah,
I spoke to people down at the markets and oh
yeah we're here. You know, that's great, that's why we
come up.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
It's interesting isn't it.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Do you know that we capitalize on that marketing as
much as we could, you know, from a tourism perspective.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
But when you sort of.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Look at you know, at the way that this happens
in the Northern Territory and it's quite a unique thing.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, definitely, Yeah, I mean, you know, non Territory is unique.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
I love it, you know, I don't leave you a
bit every time I come back. I think it's just magnificent.
So you know, it's that, you know, the town and
the community, but it's also seeing all the visitors here
and such a breadth from not only Strabay, around the
world and we had people from around the world last
time coming in.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah. How cool. Well, Kathleen, my producers just said as well,
there's plane watchers taking photos at the empty block across
from Bunnings as well.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
And that's great. We encourage it, you know, you know,
near the airport on just outside bunning Set, but also
at the other end.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
On Amy Johnson and Johnson.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah. Yeah, that's a great you know, that's huge area there.
You depending which runways and ushul either see them land
or take off throughout the whole exercise.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah, yeah, no, it's always really interesting. Well, Meka. Always
great to catch up with you.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I'm sure we'll probably catch up with you again as well,
before that actual before the display gets underway.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
But really good to speak with you this morning.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Air Commodore Mikah Gray, the head of the Air Force Shows,
thank you so much for your thanks.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Thank you
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