Some Weekend Action from Rockhampton Airport as an Antonov AN-124 is Expected This Week!

Don W ventured to Rockhampton Airport a couple of times over this past weekend and managed to capture some lovely images that he has sent through for us to enjoy.  On Saturday 29 September, he caught one of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma helicopters - looks like '292' - as it returned to Rockhampton Airport from the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

In support of the Singapore Armed Forces Military Exercise Wallaby 2012, a Polet Aviakompania (Polet Airlines) Antonov AN-124 freighter is expected to touch down at Rockhampton Airport this week to deliver some RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters.

Exact dates and times are unclear, however this week flights has already been delayed twice, so spotters would best be advised to keep and ear and eye out into the skies above Rockhampton as the week goes on!

On the commercial front over the weekend, Don W spotted a nice pair of Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines-operated) ATR 72 aircraft on Sunday 30 September.  ATR 72-500 VH-FVL was photographed operating a scheduled Virgin service to Brisbane - and is need of a clean!

While ATR 72-600 VH-FVP was spotted continuing to operate training flights between Brisbane and Rockhampton and Hervey Bay or the Sunshine Coast.

Incidentally, Virgin has also recently taken delivery of a second ATR 72-600 - VH-FVN - which is still in Perth.

Also spotted at Rockhampton Airport by Don on Sunday 30 September was Singapore Flying College Cessna 510 Citation Mustang VH-SQW.  This aircraft was one of two Singapore Flying College Mustangs to visit Rockhampton on Sunday, and is pictured shortly after arriving from the Sunshine Coast as "Raffles 141".

VH-SQW was later joined by sistership VH-SQY which was flying as "Raffles 22".  Both aircraft departed to Mackay where they were refuelled.  Later, they were both noted returning to Rockhampton, and then the Sunshine Coast.