CQ Plane Spotting Historic Spot - Sunday 19 June 2005 - Six United States Air Force (USAF) C-17 Globemaster Aircraft at Rockhampton Airport

This month's Historic Spot features one of the more memorable plane spotting experiences I've had at Rockhampton Airport, and also coincides with the joint Australian and American Military Exercise Talisman Sabre / Talisman Saber, which is held (amongst other places) in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, North of Rockhampton, starting during this coming month of July.

On Sunday 19 July 2005, during the very early morning darkness, no less than six United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft landed at Rockhampton Airport.  The six Globemasters had earlier attempted to drop hundreds of para-troopers into Shoalwater Bay, but due to the cloudy weather, were unable to complete the task, and had to land at Rockhampton Airport to allow the troops to be bussed to their destination.

I arrived at Rockampton Airport around 8am, and found two of the Globemasters parked near Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Airport apron, another three parked at various points on Taxiway Juliette, and one parked at the Northern end of the Airport apron.  The Globemasters involved in the attempted parachute drop that I photographed on the day were:

01-0193 - parked at the Northern end of the Rockhampton Airport apron.

00-0177 - parked on Taxiway Juliette.

02-1111 - also parked on Taxiway Juliette.

02-1108 - also parked on Taxiway Juliette - with the first photo below taken from the old Rockhampton Airport observation deck!

02-1098 - parked near Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Airport apron.

03-3120 - also parked near Gate 6.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable and absolutely spectacular morning of plane spotting!

All six C-17s were captured in several more photographs including this one I saw one in the old Rockhampton Airport Control Tower.  Eventually, all Globemasters departed during the early part of the afternoon.

During Combined Australia / United States Military Exercise Talisman Sabre in 2011, the scene was (sort of) repeated, with three USAF C-17s popping in one night during the exercise.  Information suggests that the same scene may be repeated this year early in the exercise.

My thanks to Rockhampton Plane Spotter Ben O for contributing some photos in this historic spot.