Residents of Darwin are familiar with the thunder of fighter jets, but most have not heard the chat between pilots in their hangers.

Wing Commander Nattavut Duangsungnaen from the Royal Thai Air Force is one of 2,500 personnel from seven countries taking part in two weeks of war games for Exercise Pitch Black, held in the Top End every two years.

He decided he wanted to be a fighter pilot while growing up near an F-16 base at Korat, in Thailand's north-east.

"Every morning they woke me up because every morning they landed on the landing pad and it's really loud," he said.

"I was hating them before. Then you grow up and every boy wants to be a fighter pilot because it looks cool.

Wing Commander Nattavut Duangsungnaen flying with the Royal Thai Air Force in Darwin for Exercise Pitch Black. ( ABC TV )

"It's cool. Just as simple as that."

Wing Commander Duangsungnaen has enjoyed speaking with pilots from the six other countries taking part.

"Before we do the mission we do what we call the coordination and the brief, so we have a lot of time to talk pilot stuff," he said.

"Our base in Thailand is in the southern part so it's hot and humid.

"Here (Darwin) it's hot and dry, so dry air is good [for] the avionics."

This year Thailand is showing off its newest plane, the JAS 39 Gripen.

It has sent half of its fleet of 12 to Darwin for Pitch Black, along with 15 pilots and 75 technicians.

"So far so good," Wing Commander Duangsungnaen said.

"Before I was flying the F-16. Jumping to the Gripen is a big jump for us.

"It's very easy to fly, it employs a lot of technology so I would say it's very fun.

RAAF Base Darwin fire fighters are given a safety brief for a Royal Thai Air Force JAS-39 Gripen. ( Supplied: RAAF )

"Gripen is a very manoeuvrable aircraft because it has a big engine with an advanced flight control system.

"And maintenance too. You cannot fit the F-16 in this hanger. We can fit three Gripen in the hanger."

The white tiger painted on the tail of the planes is the call sign of squadron 701, based at Surat Thani in southern Thailand.

Operation Pitch Black runs until August 22.

The Thai pilots will then spend a week ferrying the Gripens back to Thailand.