A Few Nice Australian Based Corporate Bizjets Come and Go at the Whitsundays Airports - Plus More!

On Friday 23 September, there were a number of nice Australian-based corporate bizjets that were all noted visiting the Whitsundays Airports.

SG Aviation Australia / Business Aviation Solutions Gulfstream G-VI (G650ER) bizjet VH-SGA was noted visiting a couple of Whitsundays Airports during a busy day of flying.  It looked to depart Melbourne (Essendon) and call into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then returning to Essendon.  VH-SGA later then flew up to Hamilton Island Airport Airport before once again returning home to Essendon.

File photo

Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI flew up from Archerfield to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then flying back South to Bankstown.

Airlift New Zealand / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-ZEK made the short hop up from Mackay Airport to and Proserpine Airport before then departing to Brisbane.  VH-ZEK had arrived into Mackay Airport from Brisbane and Hamilton Island Airport on Monday 19 September.

While the familiar sight of Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Textron Aviation (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQV flew into Hamilton Island Airport once again, this time from Archerfield via the Sunshine Coast.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 24 September, VH-SQV returned to Archerfield from Hamo.

Brenzil Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW also visited Hamilton Island Airport but from Brisbane.

Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-UYX flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Sydney and Melbourne (Essendon) before then flying down to Mildura and back to Sydney.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" flew into Mackay Airport from Brisbane and later departed to Cairns.  It then returned to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 23 September, Townsville Airlines Beech 1900D VH-RUE flew down from Cairns and Townsville to Rockhampton Airport before it then flew to Brisbane.  Later, it returned to Townsville and then Cairns.

Aircair Aviation (Aircair Helicopters) Cessna 340A VH-MPQ called into Roma and Clermont Airports while flying up from Moree to Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 24 September, VH-MPQ flew back south from Townsville again via Clermont and Roma Airports to Moree.

Brisbane-based Cessna T303 VH-TFA departed Mackay Airport for Archerfield.  It had arrived into Hamilton Island Airport from Archerfield late last week.

New South Wales-based Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga VH-SMY arrived into Longreach Airport from Warnervale.

And Townsville-based Forster Helicopters Bell Helicopter Textron 407 helicopter VH-DMF flew down to Gladstone Airport from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour via Mackay and Rockhampton Airports.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 24 September, VH-DMF returned to Shute Harbour Airport from Gladstone Airport, again via Rockhampton and Mackay Airports.

Finally, also on Friday 23 September, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 jet VH-UQW arrived into Longreach Airport from Brisbane as UTY6428 on what appears to be a closed passenger charter flight.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 25 September, VH-UQW departed Longreach Airport and returned to Brisbane but as UTY6429. 

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

A Pair of RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III Transport Aircraft - A41-211 & A41-213 - Complete Airwork at Rockhampton Airport

On Friday 23 September, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft were both spotted at Rockhampton Airport as they completed airwork and missed approaches.

A41-211 as "Stallion 64" flew North from RAAF Base Amberley, in part at low level, up to Rocky.  It then completed two low missed approaches at Rockhampton Airport and then departed back to Amberley at flight levels and via another missed approach at the Sunshine Coast.

While A41-213 as "Stallion 65" also departed Amberley but firstly headed off the South-East Queensland coast to operate with RAAF Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-005 "Dragon 42".  It then flew up from there to Rockhampton Airport where it completed a missed approach before then heading back to Amberley.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Scott H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos from Rockhampton Airport!

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

Divair (Air Link) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 Bizjet VH-NNE Spotted at The Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour - Plus More!

On Thursday 22 September, Divair (Air Link) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 bizjet VH-NNE flew up to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour from Bankstown and Orange.  At the time of writing, it appears to be staying for at least the night. 

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before flying down to Miles Airport and then back up to Hamilton Island Airport and then Mackay Airport.  VH-WMY is presently flying down to Melbourne (Essendon).

And Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-UYX flew up from Sydney to Hamilton Island Airport and back. 

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 22 September, Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ visited the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Archerfield and the Sunshine Coast.  This seems to be a weekly flight.

Aerometrex Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68C VH-CJJ departed Emerald to survey work around Newlands Mine and back to Emerald. It then flew another flight to the south and back. 

Aero Logistics Cessna 404 VH-AZU also completed an aerial survey flight out and back to of Emerald Airport but to around the Blackdown Tablelands and Dysart.

Recently re-registered Onshore Engineering / 360 Aero Space (Victoria) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-SJD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Mount Isa.

Brisbane-based Avcair Cessna 425 Conquest 1 VH-BSM visited Theodore Aerodrome from its Archerfield base.

ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-AYT Mackay to Townsville.  Had flown down late last week via Prosie.

Brisbane-based Cessna T303 VH-TFA was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport for Mackay Airport.  It had arrived into Hamo from Archerfield late last week.

And Hinterland Aviation swapped over their Cessna 208 Caravans at Labona with VH-MRZ flying in from Rockhampton Airport as HND320 and departing to Townsville as HND221, while VH-TFQ flew down to Labona from Townsville as HND before then flying across to Rockhampton Airport as HND321.  Fellow Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TFS continues to operate out of Rockhampton Airport.

Finally, also on Thursday 22 September, USA registered Robinson R22 helicopter N622TC arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the Yeppoon direction before then departing to Bundaberg Airport.

Photos taken by Lee Holloway  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-211 Completes Airwork at Bundaberg Airport

On Wednesday 21 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-211 was noted completing airwork at Bundaberg Airport.

File photo

A41-211 was flying as "Stallion 62" and looked to depart RAAF Base Amberley to fly up and complete a missed approach at Bundaberg Airport.  It then flew low level from Bundy to inland near Gayndah then up an inland route before climbing.  

A41-211 "Stallion 62" then completed a missed approach at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then Townsville before it then returned to Amberley.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Qantas Airways Airbus A330-300 VH-QPA Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Plus Singapore Airlines A350 9V-SHY Back Again - Both Supporting Exercise Wallaby 2022

On Wednesday 21 September, and as predicted, Qantas Airways Airbus A330-300 VH-QPA arrived into Rockhampton Airport direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as QFA316. It had earlier flown into Singapore from Sydney on the scheduled QFA81 service.

After unloading a full flight of passengers and bags, VH-QPA departed to Melbourne (Tullamarine) operating a positioning flight as QFA6003.

Then in the afternoon, also on Wednesday 21 September, Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-951 9V-SHY was back again, arriving from and then later return into Singapore’s Changi Airport as SIA8913/4.

It’s great to see the various heavy jets back in the region once again supporting the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2022 which is currently underway in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA). 

Information suggests however, that this is the end of the second ‘wave’ of charter flights with the third and final ‘wave’ expected early next month at the conclusion of the Exercise.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks once again to local plane spotters 'IAD', John L and Scott H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by 'IAD', John Lee and Scott Harris  ©

Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Textron Aviation (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-SQV Spotted at The Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour - Plus More!

On Wednesday 21 September, Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Textron Aviation (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQV was spotted at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

It looked to have actually flown across to Shute Harbour from Hamilton Island Airport after arriving there from Archerfield the previous day.

On Wednesday, VH-SQV then departed the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour for the Gold Coast and then Archerfield.

While AirMed Australia (Metro Holdings) (New South Wales) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQY as "Airmed 974" landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Maitland and Grafton then departed to Archerfield.

The locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ returned to Mackay Airport from Townsville after flying up there on the weekend.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY looked to visit Roma Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

And Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-ILJ visited Rockhampton Airport yet again from Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 21 September, West Wing Aviation / Helicopters Townsville Beech 58 Baron VH-ABP visited Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville.

Bendee Farming Cessna 206 VH-JDA arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Monduran.

Ipswich-based Airborne P/L (Palm Lake Works) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VLQ was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport from its Gold Coast base.

While Agile Aviation (South Australia) new PC-12/47E VH-TCP departed Archerfield for Gatton and then up to Bundaberg Airport where it completed some airwork before then returning to Archerfield.  It had flown up to Archerfield from Adelaide the previous day.

Aerometrex Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68C VH-CJJ departed Rockhampton Airport to complete aerial survey work around Gladstone before it looked to fly out to Emerald Airport.

And Inverted Downunder / Matt Hall Racing MX Aircraft MXS VH-CQE arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the South.  

It is expected to continue up to Cairns on Thursday 22 September where Matt Hall is expected to put on a show over the Cairns Esplanade during the afternoon.

Finally, also on Wednesday 21 September, Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Metro 23 VH-VEU flew out from Brisbane to Longreach Airport and then Boulia Airport before returning to Brisbane again via Longreach Airport.

Hinterland Aviation new Cessna 208 Caravan VH-JES flew from Townsville to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site as HND750 before then flying across to Rockhampton Airport as HND313 for what I believe is its first ever visit to the beef capital.  VH-JES then flew back to Labona as HND330 before then flying back to Townsville again as HND750.

And Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopter (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-EGF popped into Emerald Airport while flying down from Townsville to Archerfield and planned maintenance.

Photos taken by Lee Holloway and Jaxson White  ©

Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLC Calls Into Rockhampton Airport Again - Supporting Exercise Wallaby 2022

After visiting two days prior, on Tuesday 20 September, Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLC returned to Rockhampton Airport, again touching down direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as RBA4273.

Once again, V8-DLC taxied in and parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron.

V8-DLC looked to unload a full flight of passengers and their bags and then promptly sat parked for the day.

After dark, it was then loaded with another full flight of passengers and bag and then departed back to Singapore as RBA4287.

Information suggests that on Wednesday 21 September, there will be two further heavy jet charter flights to arrive into Rocky from Changi with a Qantas Airways and Singapore Airlines flights both showing as arriving at Rockhampton Airport during the early morning and then late afternoon respectively.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to all the local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Scott Harris  ©