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

On Wednesday 10 August, Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Textron Aviation (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQV flew up from Sydney to Shute Harbour then down to Archerfield. 

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While Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ finally departed Mackay Airport and flew up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then departing to Bankstown. 

And Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up to Mackay Airport from Archerfield and Chinchilla Airports.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 11 August, VH-WMY departed Mackay Airport for Miles Airport and then back to Archerfield. 

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 10 August, RDO Equipment Co. (ex Vanderfield) Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH departed finally Emerald Airport to Bundaberg, Gympie, Archerfield, Inverell and Toowoomba Airports.  It had arrived last weekend. 

Wagga Air Centre (Mabena) SOCATA TBM-850 VH-PVM as "Wagga Air 669" flew up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Wagga Wagga. 

UPDATE!  On Thursday 11 August, VH-PVM "Wagga Air 669" departed Prosie and returned to Wagga.

Brisbane-based Avcair Cessna 425 Conquest 1 VH-BSM flew up from Archerfield to Moura and then Emerald Airports.  It later returned to Archerfield.

Boomerang Pastoral P/L Quest Kodiak 100 VH-KKW was noted departing Longreach Airport.  It looked to have arrived there from Toowoomba over the weekend.

Bunderra Cattle Co (Rockhampton) Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-KNV flew from Rolleston Aerodrome to the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton Airport.  It had flown from Rocky to Rolleston Aerodrome via the Sunny Coast at the start of the week.

And Edwards Coaches Cessna 441 VH-TAZ flew from the Gold Coast to Emerald Airport before departing to Archerfield.  Of interest, on Tuesday 9 August, VH-TAZ flew into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield before departing to the Gold Coast.

Finally, also on Wednesday 10 August, Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Metro 23 VH-VEU flew out from Brisbane to Boulia then to Longreach Airport and back to Brisbane.

Photos taken by Lee Holloway and 'TM'  ©️

Former Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) - Now Canadian Registered De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter C-GSGP - Calls into Mackay Airport

On Tuesday 9 August, a great sight for local plane spotters with Canadian registered De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter C-GSGP spotted soon after it arrived from Mareeba.  At the time of writing it appears that C-GSGP will be staying for at least the night at Mackay Airport.

The Twin Otter has only recently entered the Canadian National Aviation Registry as C-GSGP registered to Sander Geophysics Limited of Ottawa.  It had previously been registered to P2-MFB and was operated by the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Papua New Guinea.

It was one of two Twin Otters (pictured above) that had been put up for sale stored at Mareeba.  The other is DHC-6-200 P2-MFU.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 10 August, C-GSGP departed Mackay Airport for Toowoomba and Orange in New South Wales.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 9 August, a couple of nice corporate bizjets were noted also visiting Mackay Airport.

Recently registered Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 VH-HQK visited Mackay Airport from Dubbo.

It appears that VH-HQK was only delivered into Australia via Darwin at the end of July.

And Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY made an early departure for Chinchilla Aerodrome and then Archerfield.  It had arrived the previous day from Melbourne (Moorabbin), Melbourne (Essendon), Miles and Dalby Airports.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 9 August, Southern Air Beech 1900 VH-VSO flew up to Moranbah Airport once again from West Sale and Bourke on its weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight.  It later returned down there and ended up at Melbourne (Moorabbin).

DeGunst Transport P/L Textron (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-NPZ completed its weekly FIFO run from Bundaberg Airport to Nebo Aerodrome, this time with a stop at Mackay Airport.

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-XDW flew up to Labona also from Wellcamp.  It is due to return to Wellcamp early on Wednesday 10 August.

Finally, also on Tuesday 9 August, Landsur (Landair Surveys) / Inbound Aviation (Victoria) Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68C VH-OAV was noted completing an aerial survey flight out of and back to Roma Airport as "Survey 24".  It had flown into Roma Airport from Toowoomba over the weekend.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 10 August, VH-OAV departed Roma Airport for Tyabb.

Photos taken by 'TM' and Jonathan Williams  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules A97-447 "Trojan 06" Completes Airwork at CQ Airports

On Tuesday 9 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft A97-447 was noted and spotted completing airwork at some Central Queensland Airports.

A97-447 was flying as "Trojan 06" and looked to depart Townsville and fly down to Moranbah Airport where it then flew very low-level around the back to Clermont, Capella and overhead Tieri before then being spotted completing a touch-and-go approach at Emerald Airport.

The Herc then flew down to complete more airwork at Taroom before then heading to RAAF Base Amberley.

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

The RAAF’s Major Exercise Pitch Black 2022 Set to Return to 'The Top End'

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Exercise Pitch Black is returning to the Northern Territory in 2022.

The exercise is a biennial three week multi-national large force employment exercise conducted primarily from RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal. RAAF Base Amberley, located near Ipswich will also be included in the exercise this year.

Exercise Pitch Black will run from Friday 19 August to Thursday 8 September 2022.

Exercise Pitch Black 2022 is the Royal Australian Air Force’s most significant International Engagement activity with forces participating from a wide range of partner and allied nations developing and enhancing military relationships at all levels.

Exercises such as this are pivotal to ensuring Air Force remains ready to respond whenever the Australian Government requires. The training and integration of forces that occurs during this exercise directly supports Air Force’s ability to conduct operations.

Exercise Pitch Black features a range of realistic, simulated threats which can be found in a modern battle-space environment and is an opportunity to test and improve our force integration, utilising one of the largest training airspace areas in the world - Bradshaw Field Training Area and Delamere Air Weapons Range.

The exercise will host up to 2500 personnel and up to 100 aircraft from around the globe including participants from Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, UK, the Philippines, Thailand, UAE, Canada, Netherlands, Malaysia, New Zealand and the US. Significantly, Germany, Japan, and the Republic of Korea will be participating fully for the first time.

Also based in RAAF Base Darwin from April to October, the United States Marines, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, will also participate in the exercise utilizing the MV-22 Ospreys.

Activities such as Exercise Pitch Black recognise Australia’s strong relationships and the high value we place on regional security and fostering closer ties throughout the Indo- Pacific region.

To thank the Darwin community for their co-operation during the Exercise, the RAAF will continue the tradition of providing a flypast and handling display at Mindil Beach, and an Open Day at RAAF Base Darwin where the Northern Territory community will have the chance to observe, first-hand, some of the participating Air Forces’ capabilities.

The Pitch Black 2022 flypast and handling display will be held on Thursday 25 August 2022 from approximately 5.00pm - 6.30pm (TBC) at the stunning Mindil Beach in Darwin, while the Pitch Black 2022 Open Day will be hold on Saturday 27 August 2022 from 9.00am - 4.00pm at RAAF Base Darwin.

Free buses will run from Darwin Showground to RAAF Base Darwin.

Head to the Exercise Pitch Black 2022 website for more information - https://www.airforce.gov.au/exercises/pitch-black-2022

Defence Images...

Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-KXM at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Friday 5 August, Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-KXM continued its adventures around the region.

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It departed Rockhampton Airport for Monto and then Theodore Aerodromes.  VH-KXM then continued to Emerald Airport before returning to Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 6 August, VH-KXM departed to Stirling Station, Normanton and Cairns.

While Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited Mackay Airport from Archerfield.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 5 August, Victoria-based  Ted Smith Aerostar 601 VH-IDP flew up from Archerfield to Mackay Airport.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 6 August, VH-IDP departed Mackay Airport for Cairns.

The Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ visited Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

Townsville-based Forster Helicopters Bell Helicopter Textron 407 helicopter VH-DMF was noted flying out of and around Mackay Airport.

While ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-AYT visited Hamilton Island Airport from its Townsville base.

Beech 95-B55 VH-MYM visited Rockhampton Airport from its Gayndah Aerodrome base.

Victoria-based PA-32R-301 VH-FTO flew from Emerald Airport to Hamilton Island Airport.

Of interest, New South Wales-based Piper PA-28-181 Archer VH-JRP and Tasmania-based Piper PA-28R-200 VH-IGL both flew from Emerald Airport to Hamilton Island Airport on Thursday 4 August.

Ipswich-based Airborne P/L (Palm Lake Works) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VLQ was noted once again visiting Bundaberg Airport.

And McDermott Aviation / Heli-Lift Australia Aerospatiale 365N2 Dauphin 2 helicopter N366SR visited Bundaberg Airport from its Sunshine Coast base. 

Finally, also on Friday 5 August, Cessna 208B Supervan 900 Skydiving Aircraft VH-XLF departed Innisfail for Roma Airport and then Bankstown.

Photo taken by Russell Prothero  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-206 Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Plus Airwork at Other CQ Airports

On Friday 5 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-206 was noted departing RAAF Base Amberley for the North-West where it completed a missed approach at Charleville Airport.  It then flew across to Rockhampton Airport where it landed for a short time.

A41-206 was photographed as it departed Rockhampton Airport.  It then flew up to and completed a missed approach at Mackay Airport before then continuing up and landing at Townsville.

A41-206 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Stallion 33" for all of its flights.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 6 August, A41-206, again as "Stallion 33", departed Townsville and completed a a missed approach at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before landing once again at Rockhampton Airport.  It then departed to Rockhampton Airport for RAAF Base Amberley but via a missed approach at the Sunshine Coast.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©️

Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 Bizjet VH-LXZ Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 4 August, Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-LXZ was spotted at Mackay Airport.

It looked to arrive from and then later depart back to Newcastle (Williamtown) via the Gold Coast.

While Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-KXM departed Rockhampton Airport for Mackay Airport and then Ayr.  It is due to later return to Rockhampton Airport.

And AirMed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-NEQ as "Airmed 921" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Bankstown and Archerfield.  It then departed back to Bankstown direct. 

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 4 August, Townsville Airlines (Flightech Air Logistics) Beech B200 King Air VH-WZN arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville before then departing to Brisbane.  It later returned to Townsville and Cairns.

While the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ flew into Bowen Aerodrome from Brisbane.  It later flew down to Mackay Airport before returning to Brisbane.

Far North Queensland-based Piper PA-46-350P VH-NYP flew down from Mareeba to Bowen Aerodrome and then Chinchilla Aerodrome.

While Bunderra Cattle Co (Rockhampton) Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-KNV flew out of Rockhampton Airport to Boulia, Neutral Junction and Rolleston Aerodromes before it then returned to Rockhampton Airport.

Finally, also on Thursday 4 August, Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 VH-LZK flew to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Rockhampton Airport as HND320 before then continuing onwards to Townsville as HND221.  Fellow Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-MRZ flew down from Townsville to Labona as HND221 and then onwards to Rockhampton Airport as HND321.  During the afternoon, VH-MRZ flew to Gladstone Airport and back to Rockhampton Airport as HND430. 

And Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Metro 23 VH-VET departed Boulia for Brisbane after seemingly not returning yesterday.  Fellow Link Airways Cessna 441 VH-VEJ, which had flown to Boulia and Longreach Airports from Brisbane late yesterday, departed Longreach Airport to Brisbane.

Photo taken by 'TM'  ©

New Ipswich-based Airborne P/L (Palm Lake Works) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VLQ Calls into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 3 August, new Ipswich-based Airborne P/L (Palm Lake Works) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VLQ was noted once again visiting Bundaberg Airport.

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As with previous visits, VH-VLQ flew up from the Gold Coast via the Sunshine Coast before later flying back down from Bundy over the same route.

And fellow Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-MDH of M. D. H. P/L (Cloncurry) was noted arriving into my local Clermont Aerodrome from Devoncourt Station.  It then departed to Archerfield.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 3 August, Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Metro 23 VH-VET flew out from Brisbane to call into Longreach and Boulia Airports before then heading back to Brisbane.

While Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQC departed Rockhampton Airport as SKP787 to Kidston and then Townsville as SKP704.

Seair Pacific / Istlecote Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TLH visited the Wanella Station Airstrip near Coppabella, arriving from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and later returning there via Maryborough Airport.

DeGunst Transport P/L Textron (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-NPZ flew up from Bundaberg Airport to ear Great Keppel Island before landing at Gladstone Airport for a short time.  It then returned to Bundaberg Airport.

Of interest, VH-NPZ also visited Gladstone Airport from Bundaberg Airport on Monday 1 August and on Tuesday 2 August, it completed its weekly run up to Nebo Aerodrome and back to Bundaberg Airport - a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) run?

And Flightech Aviation Piper PA-31-350 Navajo VH-WZS visited Hamilton Island Airport from Townsville.

Finally, also on Wednesday 3 August, Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-KXM landed at Emerald Airport from Vanrook Station near Normanton before then departing to Charters Towers Aerodrome.  It later flew into Rockhampton Airport where it seems to be staying for the night.

While MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC visited Middlemount Aerodrome from its Sunshine Coast base.

And Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV bizjet VH-NJR was noted visiting Maryborough Airport once again.  It arrived from and then later departed back to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-208 "Stallion 30" Spotted Completing Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Wednesday 3 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-208 was spotted as it completed a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

It departed RAAF Base Amberley and flew directly up to Rocky where it complete the missed approach.  It then returned to Amberley but via another missed approach at the Sunshine Coast.

Of interest, A41-208 was heard to be using the flight number and radio callsign of "Stallion 30".

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign VH-MMC Calls into Labona at the Carmichael Mine - Plus More!

On Tuesday 2 August, MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC was noted visiting the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site.  It looked to arrive from and then later depart back to its Sunshine Coast base.

File photo

And the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air, departing Mackay Airport for Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 2 August, Property Maintenance Australia P/L Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-WJA flew up from Dubbo to Rockhampton Airport before continuing to Kidston.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 3 August, VH-WJA returned to Rockhampton Airport from Kidston before then returning to Dubbo.

Southern Air Beech 1900 VH-VSO flew up to Moranbah Airport this time from West Sale and Bourke.  It later returned down there and ended up at Melbourne (Moorabbin).  Reports suggest this is a new Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight run - making a change from Emerald Airport where it had flown into for the previous couple of months.

Townsville Airlines (Flightech Air Logistics) Beech B200 King Air VH-WZN flew into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns.  It then departed to Brisbane before returning to Cairns via Townsville later in the day.

Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXB flew up from Toowoomba-Wellcamp to Rolleston and then Yellow Bank Aerodromes before then flying back to Wellcamp.

Fellow Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-XDW flew up to Labona also from Wellcamp.  It is due to return to Wellcamp via Emerald Airport early on Wednesday 3 August.

While Fitzgerald Aicraft Services (Victoria) Cessna U206 VH-PQC landed at Bundaberg Airport from the Ballina / Byron Bay Gateway Airport before then flying up to Mackay Airport.

UPDATE!  Over the rest of the week, VH-PQC headed up to Far North Queensland, via Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast), Hamilton Island and other Airports.

Tex Onsite (Tex Assets P/L) Aero Commander 500-U VH-TXE departed Rockhampton Airport for Winton, Boulia and Alice Springs.

Beech A36 Bonanza VH-ILG flew from Emerald Airport to Mackay Airport.

MH5 Air (Sunshine Coast) SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad VH-CIL flew into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Toowoomba.  It is due to return there early on Wednesday 3 August.

And Dino Air (Interair) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-XGL continues to operate aerial survey flights out of and back to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

Finally, also on Tuesday 2 August, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-QQY flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Ayres Rock on what appears to be a closed charter flight.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 4 August, VH-QQY departed Hamo and returned down to Sydney and then Brisbane.