Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) ANZAC Day Flypast Details for Central Queensland

With ANZAC Day tomorrow, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have released details of planned flypasts during Queensland commemorations - including some Central Queensland locations.

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Details from the RAAF's Facebook page include single Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet flypasts at:
10.00am Charters Towers
10.35am Maryborough
10.40am Hervey Bay
11.02am Calliope
11.05am Gladstone
11.10am Mt Larcom
11.25am Theodore

While, a single RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air is expected to flypast at:
8.50am Airlie Beach
9.05am Proserpine

A full list of Queensland flypasts is shown below..

The RAAF Facebook page contains a full Australia-wide list, and advises everyone that "Please note that flypasts have been allocated based on available resources, and are subject to operational and weather considerations. All activities and times are subject to variation."

Australian Helicopters Bell 412EP VH-VAU Passes Through Mackay and Gladstone Airports Wednesday

As predicted, Australian Helicopters Bell 412EP VH-VAU ferried South via Mackay and Gladstone Airports on Wednesday 23 April.

Local plane spotters Jamie and Tash captured the big Bell as it called into Gladstone Airport from Mackay late on Wednesday.  It had earlier flown from Townsville.

After taking on fuel, VH-VAU departed further South for Redcliffe.

A couple of great Australian Helicopters movements over the last few days at Gladstone, and we thank the local spotters for sending through their great photos of these lovely choppers!

Photos taken by Jamie and Tash  ©

A Few More Photos of Australian Helicopters Agusta AB412 (Bell 412) VH-LSV at Gladstone Airport

Local plane spotter Michael F was also on hand on Saturday 19 April as Australian Helicopters Agusta AB412 (Bell 412) VH-LSV passed through Gladstone Airport heading North.

  

At the time of writing, it is believed that fellow Australian Helicopters Bell 412 VH-VAU was preparing to ferry South as it has flown into Townsville from Cairns.

Thanks Michael for the great photos!

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

A Couple of Bizjets and Light Aircraft Call into Hamilton Island Airport over Easter

It would appear as though the Easter holidays has brought a couple of bizjets, along with a few light aircraft, into Hamilton Island Airport in the Whitsundays.

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Of the bizjets, Shortstop Jet Charter British Aerospace BAe-125-1000B bizjet VH-LMP touched down from its Melbourne (Essendon) base on Friday 18 April.  It departed back there on Monday 21 April.

On Saturday 19 April, Sundyne Cessna 650 Citation VII VH-SSZ touched down at Hamo from Sydney.  It departed back to Sydney on Tuesday 22 April.

On the lighter side the visiting aircraft, there were a pair of Super King Air aircraft in the form Silver Linings Aviation Raytheon B300 VH-ZEK and Gulf Aircraft Raytheon B300 VH-PYN to call in, with VH-PYN ferrying and parking at Mackay Airport on Friday 18 April.

Other light visitors to Hamilton Island over the Easter period included:  Cessna 172 VH-DBB, Hawker Beechcraft G58 VH-EZD, Cirrus SR20 VH-SRA, Piper PA-32-300 VH-KHB, and Beech 58 Baron VH-KJV.

I can certainly say that Hamilton Island would be a fantastic place to holiday for a few days!

Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-FGK at Rockhampton Airport Monday

Touching down at Rockhampton Airport on Monday 21 April was Yulgibar Pastoral Company (of Montmorency, Victoria) Cessna 550 Citation II bizjet VH-FGK.

Local plane spotter 'IAD' was on hand to capture some images as the nice looking bizjet touched down from Baryulgil Airport in Northern New South Wales.  The Citation has recently had its operator changed from Executive Airlines to the Pastoral Company.

UPDATE!  VH-FGK departed Rocky for Mackay on Wednesday 23 April.  From Mackay it departed to Melbourne (Moorabbin) Airport.

Also spotted by 'IAD' on Monday Jayrow Helicopters Bell 206B VH-CLV.

Another Bell 206B (II) in the form of Stirling Helicopters (Stirling Consolidated of Theodore) VH-JAQ which was recently spotted basking in the Rockhampton sun with spray booms attached to its under-side.

Thanks to 'IAD' for the great photos!

All photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 Calls into Coffs Harbour While Enroute Sydney to Gladstone Airport Monday

Internet-based flight tracking website Flightaware indicates that the morning QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 service from Sydney to Gladstone on Monday 21 April, called into Coffs Harbour on its journey North.  The reason for the diversion is not unknown.

The scheduled QLK2120 service spent some 30 minutes on the ground at Coffs before continuing its journey further North to Gladstone.  I also note that this service was operated by VH-QOP which was captured operating the same service last week!

File photo taken by Jamie  ©

East-Coast Parachuting Aircraft Ferry North and South Through Central Queensland Airports

Over recent weeks I've noted a few 'East Coast' parachuting aircraft ferry North and South through some Central Queensland Airports.

The first I noticed was in late March when Sydney Skydivers Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL VH-XLC which passed through Bundaberg, heading South to Port Macquarie.  It had recently been operating at Innisfail.

Initially 'Replacing' VH-XLC at Innisfail was Cessna 185A VH-KVW.  Recently, beautifully presented 1959-build De-Havilland Canada DHC-2/A1 Beaver VH-AAX ferried into Innisfail from Wilton Airfield in New South Wales.  It was noted departing Moranbah for Townsville on Saturday 19 April.

Other ferry flights I've noted have included Australian Skydive Cessna 208 Caravan VH-ZMV which passed through Longreach Airport on Sunday 13 April heading North from Tyagarah to Cairns; while fellow Caravan VH-UMV ferried South from Tully to Tyagarah on Friday 11 April.

A Couple of Helicopters Spotted at Gladstone Airport - Including Australian Helis Agusta AB412 (Bell 412) VH-LSV

Local plane spotters Jamie and Tash have also captured a couple of nice helicopter visitors to Gladstone Airport in recent days.

By far the biggest of these was Australian Helicopters Agusta AB412 (Bell 412) VH-LSV which called in for fuel while heading North on Saturday 19 April.  The big Bell arrived from the Sunshine Coast and later departed to Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and later, Horn Island where it will be based.

It is expected that another Australian Helicopters Bell 412 will ferry South through Central Queensland in the coming days!

Meanwhile, slightly smaller, but none-the-less spectacular were a pair of Robinson helicopters that have also been captured by Jamie and Tash at Gladstone Airport.

Last Sunday 13 April, locally based Robinson R-44 VH-JWN was spotted passing through Gladstone Airport.

While on Monday 14 April, Quilpie-based Robinson R-22 VH-HTU was spotted arriving into Gladstone Airport.

Yet more great photos from Jamie and Tash and sincere thanks to them for sending these shots through!

Photos taken by Jamie and Tash  ©