Aviation Photography Digest

15/07/2025

With Talisman Sabre 2025 officially getting underway on Sunday July 13th, we take a look at this years iteration of the exercise and look at a number of firsts which are debuting in 2025.

Our first report from the exercise looks at two aircraft that haven't been seen before in Australia and the role they will undertake, and also a brief look at the operations undertaken in Papa New Guinea.

Sunday 13th of July saw Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 officially get underway with an opening ceremony onboard HMAS Adelaide in Sydney Harbour.

14/07/2025

For the first time, multiple Australian Aerobatic Champion Paul Bennet is headed to Oshkosh EAA - The Spirit of Aviation 2025.

APD spoke to Paul in the leadup to his Oshkosh debut about his participation, what the crowds will see from him and his Wolf Pitts Pro, and just which aircraft he is looking forward to seeing the most.

Paul Bennet Airshows

Multiple Australian National Aerobatic champion Paul Bennet headed to Oshkosh Airshow 2025 as the first Australian invited to perform at the event.

12/07/2025

U.S. Navy, 防衛省　海上自衛隊　(Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) and Royal Australian Navy aircraft, ships and land based forces benefit from cooperative signing in Brisbane Australia prior to the commencement of Talisman Sabre 2025.

All the details in the report below from the historic signing hosted onboard USS America (LHA 6) in Brisbane Australia.

Naval aircraft, ships and land based forces from the U.S. Japan and Australia benefit from cooperative signing prior to Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.

11/07/2025

USS America (LHA 6) with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit with the ACE comprising of VMM-265 "Dragons" and VMFA-242 "Bats" are currently in Australia with personnel currently enjoying a Liberty Port Call in Brisbane.

More to come from onboard the Amphibious Assault class carrier and from Sunday July 13th we ramp up our coverage of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.

Brisbane City Council U.S. 7th Fleet U.S. Navy Pacific Marines

10/07/2025

post to Talisman Sabre 2019.

As the 2025 iteration of the exercise officially starts this Sunday July 13th We take a look at a 4 part documentary series we recorded for the 2019 iteration of the exercise and got to walk the flight line at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley where the U.S. Pacific Air Forces 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron were based.

With a unique Aussie heritage stretching back to World War 2 the 90th deployed for the first time to Australia with the F-22A Raptor from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson - JBER back in 2019.

So enjoy a look back at the 2019 exercise Talisman Sabre.

Part 2 of our Talisman Sabre 2019 documentary series features the U.S. Pacific Airforces 90th Fighter Squadron "Dicemen" with their Lockheed Martin F-22A Rap...

09/07/2025

In news released today by the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron have deployed from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam for a Bomber Task Force deployment.

The Squadron plans to train alongside allied counterparts in the region and is expected to participate in exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.

Details below in the article.

23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron equipped with the B-52H Stratofortress lands in Andersen AFB, Guam for Bomber Task Force deployment.

09/07/2025

With the Australian Army Aviation Training Centre at Oakey receiving its first three Sikorsky UH-60M Blackhawks to begin training aircrew from 2026 onwards.

We talk to Australian Army Major General David Hafner Commander of Australian Army Aviation Command as he details the significance of the Blackhawk returning to Oakey and what training will be involved for aircrews operating the Helicopter.

16th Aviation Brigade - Australian Army

Australian Army has established;ished a second base operating the Sikorsky UH-60M Blackhawk the latest variant of the Helicopter.The School of Army Aviation ...

08/07/2025

Today at Oakey the Australian Army showcased their growing Sikorsky UH-60M BlackHawk capability.

Highlighting the establishment of a second operational node at the base, this marks a key step in supporting a sovereign flying and training program operating from Swartz Barracks.

All the details in the article below, and stay tuned for our feature documentary out soon on Youtube where we interview Commander of the Australian Army’s Aviation Command, Major General David Hafner.

Second phase of the Australian Army Blackhawk program officially underway at Oakey, with the Australia Army School of Aviation gaining three UH-60M’s

03/07/2025

Multinational flyover of Sydney Harbour today.

In lead up to this months Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, a multinational flyover of the Harbour by various military aviation units from the Australian Army 6th Aviation Regiment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Recruiting Team, The Republic of Singapore Air Force Oakey Detachment and Royal Canadian Air Force combined for a Special Operations Air Task Group flyover.

The various International units are training alongside their Australian counterparts gaining interoperability throughout the three week exercise which will commence on July 13th.

02/07/2025

USS America (LHA 6) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked onboard are currently ramping up air operations off the coast of Queensland in preparation for the upcoming 2025 iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre.

This video onboard from the carrier highlights the ships visit to Sydney before commencing air operations on the 19th of June.

Stay tuned for more from the exercise as we highlight the biggest exercise to be conducted in the Southern Hemisphere from July 13.

Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), the flagship of the America Strike Group, arrived in Sydney, June 14, for a scheduled port visit. The ship carri...

01/07/2025

Royal Australian Air Force will deploy a single E-7A Wedgetail and over 100 personnel to support NATO Allied Air Command operations.

Announcement made by Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles will see No.2 Squadron depart for Europe in August for a 3-4 month deployment at the request of Poland and NATO

Details in the article below.

Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail from No.2 Squadron will deploy to Europe from August to support NATO operations.