Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2013: Other Australian and American Aircraft Spotted at Rockhampton Airport on Sunday

As well as the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Bell Boeing MV-22B Ospreys visiting Rockhampton Airport, Sunday 14 July saw yet more transport aircraft arrive, as well as a joint flight of Australian and American helicopters.

As posted below, USMC Ospreys 168027 / EP-06 and 168031 / EP-08 called into Rockhampton Airport during the morning and departed later in the afternoon.

Shortly before they arrived, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air aircraft touched down from the South.  A32-348 - operated by 32 Squadron arrived first as "Beaufort 14", closely followed by A32-437 - operated by 38 squadron - which touched down as "Dingo 32".

In the midst of the excitement of the Ospreys arriving, three transport aircraft called into Rockhampton, with United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III 99-0060 touching down from Townsville as "Reach 800".

The C-17 wears a Wright-Patt tail stripe, and at the time of writing, was still parked on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport apron.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules A97-440 then touched down from the South as "Trojan 4".

And completing the morning was RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III which touched down from the North as "Stallion 32".

Both RAAF aircraft departed soon after.

Finally in the late afternoon, there was an interesting flight of four helicopters.  Two Australian Army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk Helicopters joined two United States Navy (USN) Sikorsky HH-60H Seahawk helicopters for a flight from Rockhampton to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

The two Blackhawks - A25-219 and A25-222 - joined to two Seahawks - 165259 / NW-303 and 163783 / NW-312 - and made a spectacular departure off towards the North-East.

Simply a superb day's plane spotting!