Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-209 Completes Airwork at CQ Airports as "Stallion 36"

On Tuesday 10 December, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-209 was spotted completing airwork at both Mackay and Rockhampton Airports.  It was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Stallion 36".

It appeared to fly up from RAAF Base Amberley via an inland route overhead Emerald Airport and onwards to Mackay Airport where it was spotted below on finals for Runway 14.  It then completed a missed approach and departed to the South.

Soon after, A41-209 arrived at Rockhampton Airport where it completed more airwork, including an overfly and missed approach before then completing two touch-and-go approaches.

With the airwork complete, the Globemaster departed Rocky and returned to Amberley.

A41-209 is one of eight C-17A Globemaster III aircraft that are flown by the RAAF's No. 36 Strategic Transport Squadron based out of Amberley.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Matt M and 'IAD' for taking the time to capture and send through this great video and great photos!

Video and photos taken by Matt Midgley and 'IAD'  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YIV Makes First Visit to CQ at Mackay Airport with Split Scimitar Winglets

Certainly a surprise arrival into Mackay Airport early on Tuesday 10 December with Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YIV operating the VOZ601/604 service from and back to Brisbane.  This is the aircraft's first visit into Central Queensland since it was retrofitted earlier this year with new Split Scimitar winglets.

VH-YIV is reportedly the first of five Boeing B737-800s to be retrofitted with the new Split Scimitar winglets that will mostly be used on international flights to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Bali.  Indeed VH-YIV has spent most of its time since it was retrofitted with the winglets over July and August on international flights so its visit to CQ was certainly a pleasant surprise!

The Split Scimitar winglets, which have been named after a type of Middle Eastern sword with a curved blade, aim to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.  It features a split tip, with one part curved upwards at the end of the wing and a second tip pointing downwards and backwards at an angle.

The winglets, developed by Aviation Partners Boeing, have been available for retrofit on existing Boeing B737 Next Generation aircraft (B737-600, -700, -800 and -900/900ER series aircraft) since 2014.  Virgin is the first airline in Australia to introduce the winglets into service.

Nice!

All photos taken by 'JM'  ©

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Pops into Biloela / Thangool Airport

On Monday 9 December, the familiar sight of Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was back in CQ, this time landing at Biloela / Thangool Airport after flying up from its Sunshine Coast base.

File photo

After staying for most of the day, VH-MMC made a late afternoon departure and returned to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, up at Hamilton Island Airport, after arriving late last week, the visiting Silver Linings Aviation Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-ZEK departed back to its Bankstown base also on Monday 9 December.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 Jet VH-JFB Completes Charter Flights to Hamilton Island Airport

Over the last week, and as it did in early November, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-JFB has been noted making a couple of visits to Hamilton Island Airport on what appears to be closed charter flights.

File photo

On Sunday 1 December, VH-JFB made its first visit to Hamo, arriving from Hobart as UTY582.  It then departed to Cairns as UTY584.

VH-JFB had started at Cairns and flew down to Hobart on Thursday 28 November.

Then on Wednesday 4 December, VH-JFB flew back into Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns as UTY581.  It then departed to Ayers Rock as UTY583.

It has since flown over the New Zealand.

Photo taken by Brandon Giacomin  ©

Silver Linings Aviation Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign Bizjet VH-ZEK Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport

On Thursday 5 December, Silver Linings Aviation Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-ZEK was back in Central Queensland once again, this time arriving into Hamilton Island Airport direct from its Bankstown Base.

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At the time of writing, it appears that VH-ZEK is staying at Hamo for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Monday 9 December, VH-ZEK finally departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Bankstown.

Bundaberg-based Greensill Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-CCJ Back in the Air!

After a couple of quiet weeks parked at its now Bundaberg Airport base, Greensill Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ has been back in the air this week, completing a flight to Melbourne and back

File photo

After completing a quick local test flight in Monday 2 December, VH-CCJ departed Bundaberg Airport on Wednesday 4 December, flying direct to Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.  After spending most of the day there, VH-CCJ returned to Bundy later in the evening.

Photo taken by Dan B  ©

Albury-based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ Bizjet VH-JSZ Pops into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

A nice arrival into Mackay Airport on Tuesday 3 December with Albury (New South Wales) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ touching down from Albury via Sydney.

After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-JSZ returned to Sydney and then Albury.

My interest in this registration marking was peaked as I remember this marking being worn by a Dash-8-100 in the early 2000's.  That Dash-8-100 became VH-QQC with Skytrans Airlines in Cairns and then Maroomba Airlines in Western Australia.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 3 December, LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" was also noted visiting Mackay Airport.  It arrived from Townsville and later departed to the Toowoomba-Wellcamp Airport before heading to Brisbane and eventually returning to Townsville.

While on Monday 2 December, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU was noted calling into Rockhampton and Mackay Airports during a busy day of flying out of and back to Cairns.  It also called into these two places last Thursday 28 November and Friday 29 November.

Also on Friday 29 November, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport.

Finally, very late on Sunday 1 December, Corporate Aircraft Charter (South Australia) Cessna 550 Citation II bizjet VH-ZLE was noted arriving into Charleville Airport from Brisbane.  Then in the wee small hours of Monday 2 December, it then flew to Quilpie before returning to Brisbane.

My suspicions continue to believe that VH-ZLE is operating for LifeFlight on medical evacuation flights.

RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air Turboprops A32-437 & A32-675 Both Visit Bundaberg Airport

For the second week in-a-row, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air turboprops have been noted visiting Central Queensland Airports.  On Monday 2 December, the two RAAF Beech B350 Super King Airs were noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport.  They were identified as A32-437 "Hudson 07" and A32-675 "Hudson 09" and both looked arrive to direct from their RAAF Base East Sale home base.

Both Super King Airs stayed parked for the night and were photographed above still resting on the Bundaberg Airport parking apron above early on Tuesday 3 December.

Later on Tuesday, both Super King Airs departed Bundaberg Airport bound for Longreach Airport, both via a practice NDB approach at Emerald Airport.  After taking on fuel, both Super King Airs then departed Longreach Airport and headed for Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 4 December, both Super King Airs - A32-437 "Hudson 07" and A32-675 "Hudson 09" - both departed Cairns and landed at Rockhampton Airport for a short time.  They then continued to RAAF Base Richmond.

All photos taken by Isaac S  ©️

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-001 Pops into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport

On Monday 2 December, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-001 was noted calling into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It arrived from Canberra and RAAF Base Amberley and was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Envoy 21".

A56-001 at Brisbane Airport recently  (File photo)

After some time on the ground, A56-001 departed Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and returned to Amberley and then Canberra.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Airmed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-SQY Pops into Mackay Airport as "AirMed 952"

On Saturday 30 November, AirMed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQY was back in Central Queensland this time noted arriving into Mackay Airport from its Bankstown base vai Lismore in Northern New South Wales.  It was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Airmed 952".

File phot

Looking to be completing a medical evacuation flight, VH-SQY departed Mackay Airport and returned direct to Bankstown again as "Airmed 952".

The sleek little bizjet has recently has its operator details updated to AirMed Australia - a New South Wales (NSW) based organisation that has been providing patient transport services by air and by ground for over a decade.  They promote themselves as one of the few providers that have extensive air and ground assets positioned around NSW, thus enabling them to provide our customers with a true "bed-to-bed" service.

To find out more about AirMed, visit their website at:  http://airmed.com.au/

Photo taken by Greg Weir  ©