Exercise Wallaby 2018 - Photos of Royal Brunei Airlines B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLB & Singapore Airlines A330-300 9V-STV at Rockhampton Airport

The heavy jet passenger charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2018 made a spectacular start on Saturday 22 September with a pair of fantastic arrivals into Rockhampton Airport - and Daniel B, Trevor H and Kayanne H were three of many local aviation enthusiasts and other curious spectators who were on hand to take photos!

First to arrive into Rockhampton Airport during the middle part of the morning was Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLB which touched down at Rocky directly from Singapore's Changi Airport as RBA4271.

It then taxied on the usual parking position for heavy jet aircraft - Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron.

After unloading a full load of personnel and their bags, the Dreamliner was refuelled and soon after it taxied out and parked on Taxiway Juliette for a short period of time before if departed back to Singapore but as RBA4272.

The reason why it was forced to taxi out and park on the taxiway was that fellow heavy, Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 9V-STV also touched down at Rockhampton Airport also from Singapore's Changi Airport but as SIA8931.

After it was able to also park on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron, it too then unloaded another full load of personnel and their bags.

Soon after lunch, and after it was refuelled, 9V-STV also departed back to Singapore but as SIA8932.

It is expected that V8-DLB and possibly 9V-STV will return to Rockhampton Airport once again from Singapore during the morning on Sunday 23 September - stay tuned for more!

Thanks to Daniel, Trevor and Kayanne for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of a couple of great visitors to Rockhampton Airport!

All photos and video taken by Daniel Bishop, Trevor Hardsman, and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

RAAF Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 Pops into Bundaberg and Hamilton Island Airports

On Thursday 20 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 was noted touching down at Bundaberg Airport from Canberra and Coffs Harbour as "Envoy 97".

A36-002 on the ground at Hamilton Island Airport  (File photo)

After a short time on the ground, the BBJ departed North towards Hamilton Island Airport where it looked to land again for a short time.

On what appeared to be a training flight, A36-002 then continued further North to Cairns before finally landing at Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Friday 21 September, A36-002 flew South from Townsville and completed airwork at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before landing at Mackay and Rockhampton Airports.  It then departed for the Gold Coast before returning to Canberra.

Meanwhile, as mentioned below, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air A32-675 flying as "Hudson 04" was noted arriving into Longreach Airport from Townsville via missed approach at Mackay Airport also on Tuesday 18 September.  It then departed to Rockhampton Airport via more airwork at Charleville and Emerald Airports. 

After spending the night at Rocky, A32-675 departed for the Sunshine Coast early on Wednesday 19 September.  It then completed a flight from the Sunny Coast to Gladstone Airport where it completed airwork.  A32-675 then flew South towards RAAF Base Amberley.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2018 - Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Helicopter Flights Start as Exercise Kicks Off - Plus Heavy Jet Charter Flights This Weekend!

It appeared that on Thursday 20 September, flying operations for the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2018 kicked off with some spectacular multiple-ship formation flights by the visiting Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) helicopters captured by local plane spotters Russell P and Daniel B.

Initially, a pair of the four RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters departed Rockhampton Airport for the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as "Avon".  Later, all four RSAF Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopters departed Rocky for Shoalwater Bay as "Cyclops".

"Avon" then returned but went out once again, this time as a three-ship formation of Apaches.  Both "Avon" and "Cyclops" were photographed returning to Rockhampton Airport.

Finally, a pair of RSAF Aerospatiale / Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma helicopters - 272 and 293 - were photographed departing Rockhampton Airport as "Diamond".

Aside from the RSAF helicopter action starting up, also on Thursday 20 September, the visiting RSAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules '735' departed Rockhampton Airport again as "SAF9853" destined for Darwin.  It had arrived from Darwin the previous day - see Blog post below.

It is expected that flying operations will continue on Friday 21 September - we hope to bring you many more photos of the spectacular action at Rockhampton Airport!

Finally, over this coming weekend, it is expected that the heavy jet passenger charter flights in support of Exercise Wallaby 2018 will kick off in daylight during the morning on Saturday 22 September.  While not 100% confirmed, early indications suggest that a Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner, and possibly a Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300, will visit Rockhampton Airport.

Be sure to 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 local plane spotters Russell P and Daniel B for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Russell Prothero and Daniel Bishop  ©