Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2013: Monday Plane Spotting Photos from Rockhampton Airport as the Exercise Kicks Off

On Monday 15 July, Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 officially started, and again, there was some more great aircraft action at Rockhampton Airport.  And the action started early with the spectacular departure of the two United States Navy (USN) Grumman C-2A Greyhounds that have called Rockhampton Airport 'home'.  Pictured below is 162175 / NF-33 which departed as "Password 33".

And 162152 / NF-32 which departed as "Password 32".

Other American military aircraft movements included two visits by United States Air Force Lockheed MC-130P 69-5826 as "Stilt 13".

The MC-130P is flown by the 17th Special Operations Squadron (17th SOS) and based at the Kadena Air Force Base in Japan.

Meanwhile - fellow USAF transport aircraft - Boeing C-17A Globemaster III 99-0060 - departed Rockhampton for Guam as "Reach 800".

Finally, as the afternoon wore on, there was some spectacular helicopter action around Rockhampton Airport which some the local plane spotters were fortunate enough to enjoy.

Australian Army Aviation regiments were represented on Monday 15 July by Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk helicopter A25-210 and Commonwealth CA-32 (Bell 206B/OH-58A) Kiowa helicopter A17-014.

Australian Army marked NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-014 was also spotted twice on Monday flying into Rockhampton Airport as "Poseidon 14".

Lastly, a pair of United States Navy (USN) Sikorsky HH-60H Seahawks - 165118 / NW-310 and 165259 / NW-303 - of the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC-85) "Firehawks" - performed several spectacular circuits of the Airport and surrounds as they conducted drills at nearby "Camp Rocky".

Another great day!