A Few More Plane Spotting Photos from Rockhampton Airport Last Week

Local plane spotter Phil M continues to send through stunning images of some of more unique visitors and goings-on at Rockhampton Airport, including Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-001 performing a missed approach on Monday 28 July.

Also spotted visiting Rocky on Monday 28 July was McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-MWZ.

And nearby - and as reported below - the locally-based Hawker Siddeley Aviation T.75A - Hawker Hunter - VH-XHH was sitting outside of its hangar.  As it turned out, VH-XHH was later broken up and prepared for export to Canada.

However, one of the more interesting events at Rockhampton Airport on Monday 28 July that Phil was on hand for to capture some images of occurred at the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) hangar on the General Aviation (GA) side of the Airport.

Recently retired RFDS pilot Neville Wilson - who has committed the past 20 years of his flying career to transporting the sick - was the guest of honour at a party inside the RFDS hangar to celebrate his remarkable career.

National media were also on hand, and Neville taxied RFDS Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air VH-FDI out and back onto the RFDS apron, via another water cannon salute from the Airport Fire and Rescue Service.

The story made on Monday of Neville's career then appeared on Channel 9's Today Programme on Thursday 31 July.  A link to the story can be found here:  http://short.ninem.sn/UsL7iuF

At Rockhampton Airport on Thursday 31 July, Phil captured some great photos of the late afternoon arrival of Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YFN from Brisbane as VOZ1245.

On Friday 1 August, The Queensland Government Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY called in briefly from Brisbane.

After only 15 minutes on the ground, it departed back to the state's capital.  Presumably, the visit was part of a training flight.

Finally, on Sunday 3 August, Phil captured some nice departure photos of QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXD.

Certainly some great photos from Phil.  We thank him sincerely for sending them through, and for his continued support of the CQ Plane Spotting Blog.

All photos taken by Phil M  ©