More Great Photos of Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 VH-VQK in Launceston Tasmania Colour Scheme at Mackay Airport

Photographed making another visit to Mackay Airport on Tuesday 26 March was Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 VH-VQK which is adorned in stickers promoting Launceston in Tasmania as a tourist destination.

VH-VQK once again operated the scheduled JST886/887 service from and back to Brisbane.  It has done so a few times since emerging from hangar in this striking livery two weeks ago.

VH-VQK emerged from the maintenance hangar at Brisbane and was officially unveiled at Launceston Airport on its first day of operation on Wednesday 13 March.

Four of Tasmania’s most iconic destinations have been applied to both sides of the A320 that will fly throughout Australia and overseas for the next four-and-a-half months.  Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay, Cataract Gorge and the Bay of Fires are featured on the livery of VH-VQK.

The scenic images, which will be featured on the plane until the end of July, have also been emblazoned on tray tables and overhead lockers.  The promotion is designed to encourage visitors to fly into Tasmania via the North.

Nice!

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter ‘JM’ for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of a great visitor to CQ!

Photos taken by ‘JM’  ©️

Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 Bizjet VH-TEY Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 26 March, Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY was noted flying into Rockhampton Airport from its Archerfield base.

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After a couple of hours on the ground, the sleek Citation departed Rocky and returned to Archerfield.

Also on Tuesday 26 March, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY was noted visiting Biloela / Thangool Airport.  It arrived from and later departed back to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, on Monday 25 March, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU was back in CQ once again with it calling into both Rockhampton and Mackay Airports during a busy day of flying.

Finally, a slightly smaller corporate aircraft but a familiar one none-the-less with CromAir Cessna 414A VH-CBT now back based at Bundaberg Airport and once again flying around various CQ Airports and beyond.  On Tuesday 26 March it completed a return flight from Bundy to the Ballina / Byron Gateway Airport in Northern New South Wales.  It was also noted visiting Rockhampton Airport last week.

Photo taken by David Geck  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) B737 / E-7A Wedgetails - A30-002 & A30-005 - Missed Approaches at Hervey Bay and Bundaberg Airports

On Tuesday 26 March, as a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft were both noted completing missed approaches at Central Queensland Airports.

In the early afternoon, A30-002 as "Wedgetail 10" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown and completed a missed approach at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It then returned to Williamtown.

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Then a little later, A30-005 as "Wedgetail 07" also flew up from Williamtown via a missed approach at the Gold Coast and completed another missed approach but at Bundaberg Airport.  It then also returned to Williamtown.

Of interest, six Wedgetails are flown by the RAAF's No. 2 Squadron out of RAAF Base Williamtown, along a detachment also in the Northern Territory.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 26 March,  Royal Australian Navy (RAN) NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-015 was heard operating between Navy ships near Heron Island off Gladstone.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©

RAAF Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-001 and Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-005 Complete Airwork at CQ Airports

On Monday 25 March, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft were noted completing airwork at Central Queensland Airports.

RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-005 "Mitchell 03" was noted completing a missed approach at Hamilton Island Airport.

It flew up from and later returned to its 'home' at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales.

Soon after, RAAF Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-001 was spotted climbing out of Rockhampton Airport after it completed a missed approach.

The KC-30A was flying as "Dragon 36" and looked to call into Rockhampton from the North - it had appeared to 'follow' the Wedgetail up through inland Queensland.

After completing the airwork at Rockhampton Airport, A39-001 departed to RAAF Base Amberley.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Local Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 Bizjet N142GZ Completes Flights in and out of Mackay Airport

After flying South at the end of the previous week, on Friday 22 March, locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ returned to its Mackay Airport base for Brisbane.

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Now, on Sunday 24 March, N142GZ was back in the air, departing Mackay Airport again heading to Brisbane.

Nice!

More Photos as RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft A34-001 "Kaos 34" Completes More Airwork at Rockhampton Airport

On Sunday 24 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-001 was again spotted completing airwork at Rockhampton Airport.

It flew South from Townsville was again heard to be using the radio callsign of "Kaos 34".

As posted below, A34-001 "Kaos 34" was noted completing airwork at several CQ Airports on Friday 22 March and was also captured by local photographer Russell P completing one of its five touch-and-go landings at Rockhampton Airport.

A34-001 was also noted up at Cairns Airport on Saturday 23 March and seemed to spend the last couple of days based out of Townsville.

After completing its airwork at Rockhampton Airport on Sunday, A34-001 was heard to fly South to RAAF Base Amberley.

Sincere thanks to Kayanne H and Russell P for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of the Spartan at Rockhampton!

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and Russell Prothero  ©

Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 Bizjet VH-SIY on Med-evac Flights to CQ Airport - Photographed at Rockhampton Airport

As mentioned below, as the sun was setting on Friday 22 March, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY called into Rockhampton Airport from its Sunshine Coast base.  Local photographer Russell P was on hand to capture some great photos as the sleek little Citation touched down at the beef capital and parked on the Rockhampton Airport apron.

It was reported that VH-SIY looked to be operating a medical evacuation flight and research reveals that Machjet has recently been awarded a contract to operate long-distance med-evac flights on behalf of Queensland Health.  Machjet will also operate Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-ZIY on med-evac flights having been re-configured from the standard corporate interior layout.

Then, after dark on Saturday 23 March, VH-SIY was back in the air and back in CQ calling into Longreach Airport from the Sunshine Coast.  It then departed to Julia Creek and Townsville.  VH-SIY again looked to be operating a medical evacuation flight.

Sincere thanks to local photographer Russell P for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Russell Prothero  ©

Rotorwing Helicopters (Victoria) Garlick Helicopters (Bell) UH-1H Huey VH-UHX Passes Through CQ Airports

A nice big chopper to be noted passing through Central Queensland Airports on Saturday 23 March was Rotorwing Helicopters (of Victoria) Garlick Helicopters (Bell) UH-1H Huey helicopter VH-UHX.

It was noted passing through Rockhampton Airport, arriving from the South, before being later photographed at Mackay Airport.  VH-UHX then continued to Townsville and Cairns where it is believed to be heading to operate with Great Barrier Reef Helicopters (GBR Helicopters).

VH-UHX was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Helitack 283".

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Stunning Photos as Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-UQA Arrives into Rockhampton Airport on Sunset

While he was at Rockhampton Airport on Friday 22 March, local photographer Russell P captured some stunning photos as Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-UQA arrived into the beef capital right as the sun was going down.

VH-UQA was operating the scheduled VO1249/1250 service from and back to Brisbane on behalf of Virgin Australia Airlines.

Sincere thanks once again to local photographer Russell P for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Russell Prothero  ©

AirMed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-NEQ Pops into Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 22 March, AirMed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-NEQ was noted arriving into Longreach Airport from Bankstown via Bathurst in New South Wales.

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After taking on fuel, it departed Longreach Airport for Lizard Island before ending the day at Cairns.

Also noted visiting Longreach Airport also on Friday 22 March were a pair of Soar Aviation (Melbourne) BRM Aero Bristell NG-5 ultralight aircraft VH-YVN and VH-YWN.  They both looked to depart their Melbourne (Moorabbin) base on Wednesday 20 March and have called into Wagga Wagga, Lismore and Bathurst in New South Wales before arriving into Longreach Airport from Roma Airport.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 24 March, both VH-YVN and VH-YWN departed Longreach Airport for Roma Airport and Moree and Bathurst in New South Wales.  I presume they are on their way home.

While Brisbane-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAD also visited Longreach Airport also on Friday 22 March, arriving from and later departing to its Archerfield base via Taroom.  And Brisbane-based Beech 58 Baron VH-NPT arrived from and later departed back to Mount Isa.

Meanwhile, over at Rockhampton Airport, as this post is being written late on Friday 22 March, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY arrived from its Sunshine Coast base.  It departed to Brisbane before returning to the Sunny Coast.

I have been told that it may have been operating a medical evacuation flight.

Earlier on Friday 22 March, the familiar sight of the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU was back in CQ once again with it calling into both Rockhampton and Mackay Airports during a busy day of flying.

Also at Rockhampton Airport, also on Friday 22 March, locally-based R-Mach Aviation Cessna 337G VH-JOE arrived back home after spending time recently operating at Port Lincoln in South Australia.  It arrived from there via Charleville Airport.

R-Mach Aviation's Lancair 4 VH-XVP also flew back into Rockhampton Airport also on Friday 22 March, flying direct from Adelaide - a three-and-a-half hour flight.  It had departed to Port Lincoln the previous day.

Finally, Corporate Air  / Vee H Aviation Metro 23 VH-VET was noted flying into Cloncurry Airport from Brisbane early on Friday 22 March.  It then flew across from Cloncurry Airport to Rockhampton Airport before returning to Brisbane.  It flew the opposite way - Brisbane to Rocky to Cloncurry then back around 11 days earlier - see Blog post below.