A Few Other Plane Spotting Photos from Gladstone Airport - incl Old Station Visitors Calling in for Fuel!

Over the last weekend, Gladstone Airport has played host to a couple of visitors calling in while flying to and from the Old Station Fly-in at Raglan - along with a nice new helicopter on a delivery flight - and local plane spotters Jamie and Tash, and Michael F, have been on hand to capture some of the action!

On Friday 23 May, Jamie and Tash captured Brisbane-based New Zealand Aerospace CT/4A Airtrainer VH-YBD/A19-050 called in to Gladstone while enroute to Old Station.

Early on Saturday 24 May, Townsville-based Tude's Choppers Bell 407 chopper VH-NQH was captured by Jamie and Tash as it departed North on presumably a delivery flight from the South.

Later on Saturday 24 May, local Rutan Long-Ez VH-LEX was captured departing Gladstone's Runway 28 for Old Station.  VH-LEX raised the ire however of the pilots of QantasLink Dash-8-Q300 VH-SBB which was on finals to Runway 28 as VH-LEX departed.

VH-SBB was forced to conduct a missed approach and 'go-around' for another landing on Runway 28.

On Sunday 25 May, Michael F had a great day at Gladstone Airport as a few more aircraft called in from Old Station before departing further to their home airports.  One aircraft that ended up staying was Van's RV-10 VH-OSH.

The three McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International choppers that were at the Old Station Fly-in also called in for fuel before departing to South.   The unmistakable sound of Bell 214B-1 'Big-lifter' N49732 echoed over Gladstone as the big Bell called in first.

It was followed by Aerospatiale AS.355F1 VH-HRU and Eurocopter AS.365N2 Dauphin VH-ECQ.  All departed in quick succession for the South.

A little later in the morning, a pair of BAE Systems Flight Training Pacific Aerospace CT/4B Airtrainer aircraft - VH-YCP and VH-YCR - called in together from Old Station.

The two airtrainers are is in service with the Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School at Tamworth in New South Wales and were very welcome visitors to the region over the weekend.

Both aircraft are in fact ex-RNZAF training aircraft with VH-YCP ex NZ1946 built in 1978, while VH-YCR is ex NZ1941 and is built in 1976.

Finally, Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross VH-NLD also called in for fuel from Old Station before heading South.  Another spotter reported seeing VH-NLD parked on the apron at Gympie Aerodrome.

Some great photos from Gladstone Airport of some absolutely fantastic movements to call into the industrial city.  Sincere thanks to Jamie and Tash, along with Michael, for their great coverage of a great couple of days of action!

Photos taken by Jamie and Tash and Michael Fleetwood  ©