Billy the Blood Drop from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service stands proudly with an F/A-18 Hornet at RAAF Base Williamtown. Billy the Blood Drop is the official mascot of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, who visited RAAF base Williamtown recently with its mobile donation van. The Van allows base personal to donate life saving supplies of blood.

During a Pitch Black flying sortie, F/A-18 Classic Hornets prepares to replenish its fuel supply from a No. 33 Squadron KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport.

The KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport is making its debut at a multi-national exercise during Exercise Pitch Black 12. Operated by No. 33 Squadron, the aircraft will fly from bases in Queensland to the exercise area in the Northern Territory to refuel aircraft using its hose-and-drogue refuelling pods, demonstrating its ability as a strategic tanker. The first two of five aircraft were delivered in mid-2011, and its participation in Pitch Black 12 will assist bringing the aircraft to Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in late 2012.

http://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?position=25&archiveid=5003&columns=4&rows=2&sorting=ModifiedTimeAsc&search=pitch%20black%202012

continued