A Pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules Aircraft - A97-442 & A97-468 - Complete Airwork at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Sunday 26 October, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft were both noted completing airwork at a couple of Central Queensland Airports.

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A97-442 as "Trojan 52" and A97-468 as "Trojan 53" were noted both flying down from Townsville to RAAF Base Amberley via airwork and missed approaches at both Hamilton Island Airport and Emerald Airport.  They then continued to RAAF Base Richmond via further airwork at Moree and Tamworth.

It looks like both Hercs left Richmond mid-week and have been on a flight around Australia calling into RAAF Base Pearce, other places in Western Australia and then up to Darwin.  On Saturday 25 October, they flew across from Darwin across the top with approaches at three airports and then landing at RAAF Base Scherger before continuing to Cairns and then Townsville.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 26 October, Cirrus Design Corporation's Cirrus SR20A-G7 Trac VH-8TR was on display at Donnington Airpark before later flying across to Ayr and then down to Rockhampton Airport.  It then departed to Archerfield. 

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VH-8TR had flown up to Donnington Airpark from Archerfield via Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 25 October.

And NSW based Cirrus SR22 VH-8TC arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the Gold Coast and then departed to Mackay Airport and Cairns.

Flexjet LLC (USA) Gulfstream G650ER Bizjet N673FX as 'LXJ673' / "Flexjet 673" Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 23 October, Flexjet LLC (USA) Gulfstream G650ER Bizjet N673FX as 'LXJ673' / "Flexjet 673" was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Tullamarine).

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It then flew down to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 23 October, Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Cessna 525A CitationJet2 bizjet VH-EJT flew up from Bankstown to Hamilton Island Airport and then also down to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Christopher Mabbott  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-002 "Envoy 87" Spotted at Bundaberg Airport

On Thursday 23 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-002 flying  as "Envoy 87" came up from Canberra and Coffs Harbour to Bundaberg Airport.

It then departed to Hamilton Island Airport and then later to Townsville where it appears to be staying for the night.

UPDATE!  On Friday 24 October, RAAF Falcon A56-002 as "Envoy 87" flew down from Townsville to complete a missed approach at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then flying down to overhead Emerald and Rockhampton to then land at Gladstone Airport. 

A bit later it departed Gladstone Airport for the Gold Coast and further south back to Canberra via Tamworth.

Photo taken by Daniel Gorza  ©

Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ Bizjet VH-JSZ Calls into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 21 October, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up from Archerfield to Dalby, Natal Downs and Clermont Aerodrome and then during the afternoon onwards to Emerald Airport and then back to Archerfield.

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UPDATE!  On Wednesday 22 October, VH-JSZ once again flew up from Archerfield to Clermont Aerodrome before then flying to Einasleigh and Natal Downs.  During the afternoon, it flew down from there to St George and back to Natal Downs.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 23 October, VH-JSZ flew down from Natal Downs to Emerald Airport and back to Natal Downs.

While the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ  flew up from Brisbane to Mackay Airport then down to Rockhampton Airport and then back to Brisbane.

UPDATES!  On Wednesday 22 October, VH-SGQ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane and then departed to Mackay Airport.  And on Thursday 23 October, VH-SGQ flew down from Cairns, Townsville and Mackay Airports to Brisbane.

And Stirling Helicopters Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter N137WZ arrived back into Rockhampton Airport from Caboolture.

It had flown down there a couple of weeks ago and was photographed with another Black Hawk helicopter in the form of Orange Helicopters operated Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter N711BF.

Photos taken by James Saunders  ©

Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 Bizjet VH-NJR Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On a quiet Monday 20 October, Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR visited Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.

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While on Sunday 19 October,  Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FMZ flew up from Bankstown to Mackay Airport and the Cairns and Mareeba after spending a month or so in maintenance down there.

Australian-based but American-registered Eclipse EA500 Bizjet N465DG Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 18 October, Australian-based but American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N465DG arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Port Macquarie and later departed to Archerfield.

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While Airlie Beach-registered Piper PA-46-600TP VH-T43 was noted completing a local flight out of and back to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour via airwork at Hamilton Island Airport.

UPDATE!  Over the next couple of days, VH-T43 took the skies again out of Shute, completing local flights including airwork and landings at both Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and Bowen Aerodrome.

And MKR Helicopters (NSW) Bell Helicopter Textron 407GXP VH-8Y8 was also noted flying out of Shute Harbour heading South.

Photo taken by Paul Tyler  ©

Kahu NZ Sikorsky EH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter ZK-HKU Spotted at Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 17 October, Kahu NZ Sikorsky EH-60A Black Hawk helicopter ZK-HKU was spotted passing through Longreach Airport while flying up from Roma to Burketown.  It reportedly left New Zealand on Wednesday, and is off to fight bushfires in Indonesia.

And New Zealand-based Tecnam P2002 Sierra Mk II ZK-EVE which landed at Agnes Water yesterday from Boonah and Southport, departed there to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 19 October, ZK-EVE departed Shute Harbour for Cooktown.

UPDATE!  Over the weekend on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, ZK-EVE was noted visiting Longreach Airport and then Roma Airport while seemingly returning to Boonah.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 17 October, Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI as "Navair 173" arrived in Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Archerfield.  It then departed to Newcastle (Williamtown) before returning to Archerfield.

Australian based but American registered Eclipse Aviation EA550 Very Light jet (VLJ) bizjet N771MT  flew up from Sunshine Coast to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 19 October, N771MT departed Shute Harbour for Bankstown.

While Narrabri based Betty Freckle Aviation Cessna A185F VH-FIB visited Rockhampton Airport from Warialda.

Cleveland Bay Aviation (Townsville) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-CYY flew up to Townsville from Bankstown via Roma Airport.  It flew down over the same route the previous day.

Edwards Coaches Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-OXY flew up to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Armidale before then flying down to Warrnambool and then back to Armidale.

And Aero Logistics / Bayswater Road Aerial Surveys Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II VH-AL3 flew up to Mackay Airport from Archerfield.

Photo taken by Liam Sellick  ©

Machjet (Machjet International) Beech B200C King Air VH-PUY as "Machflight 313" Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 16 October, Machjet (Machjet International) Beech B200C King Air VH-PUY as "Machflight 313" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Townsville.  During the afternoon, it reversed the flight. 

While Brescon Beech B300 Super King Air VH-WXS visited Dysart Aerodrome from Archerfield.

FlyPelican (Pelican Airlines) British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3206 (Jetstream 32) turboprop aircraft VH-OTD was noted visiting Emerald Airport from Archerfield via Toowoomba-Wellcamp.  It also visited late on Wednesday 15 October on the weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter run.

And after flying South in June, Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service (CQ Rescue) / CQ Aeromedical Leonardo AW139 helicopter VH-XQ9 flew back up from Archerfield to Mackay Airport via Gladstone Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 16 October, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up from Archerfield to Mackay Airport before then flying down to Rockhampton Airport and then back to Archerfield. 

While Air AP / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-AP7 departed Hamilton Island Airport for Brisbane before then heading over the Queenstown in New Zealand and then flying to Melbourne (Essendon).  It had arrived into Hamo from Adelaide at the start of the week.

And Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport for Bundaberg Airport, the Sunshine Coast and Orange.  It had flown out to Emerald Airport from Orange via the Sunny Coast and Bundy on Tuesday 14 October (we missed it!).

All photos taken by John Lee  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 "Envoy 51" Calls into CQ Airports - Spotted at Mackay Airport

On Thursday 16 October,  Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 was spotted visiting Mackay Airport.  It was flying as "Envoy 51" and looked to be completing a training flight up and down the Queensland coast.

On Wednesday 15 October, A62-001 "Envoy 51" flew up from Canberra and RAAF Base Williamtown to land at Bundaberg Airport.  It then continued to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then later to Townsville.

On Thursday, it departed Townsville and landed at Mackay Airport as shown before then flying down to the Sunshine Coast and back to Canberra.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2025 - The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C/D Block 52 Version+ Fighting Falcon Jets Take to the Air From Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

After almost a week of R&R, on Thursday 16 October, three of the four The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16C/D+ (F-16C/D Block 52+ Version) Fighting Falcon jets took to the air for the first time since arriving into Rockhampton Airport to participate in the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25). 

During the morning and again the afternoon, the three F-16s flew as 'SAF3511' from Rocky down to RAAF base Amberley and back on a diversion training flight.

It is expected that proper sorties as a part of Exercise Wallaby 2025 should start in the coming days.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 16 October, and about at the same time as the F-16 flights, the RSAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft '730' completed yet more sorties to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) from and back to Rockhampton Airport again as "RIDER18/28/38".

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 the local plane spotter John L for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by John Lee  ©