RAAF Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft A47-002 Completes Airwork at Rockhampton Airport

In what turned out to be an awesome morning of military aircraft spotting at Rockhampton Airport, also on Tuesday 27 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft A47-002 was also spotted completing a missed approach also at Rockhampton Airport.

It flew South from Townsville (where it had arrived the previous day) and after completing its airwork at Rocky, A47-002 looked to head to the Gold Coast before returning to its RAAF Base Edinburgh base.

A47-002 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Mariner 42" which is of the RAAF's 292 Squadron.

No. 292 Squadron is a RAAF operational conversion unit (OCU) based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. The squadron was formed in 1977 as the Maritime Analysis Training Squadron and renamed No. 292 Squadron in 1980. Throughout its history it has formed part of No. 92 Wing and been responsible for training aircrew to operate the RAAF's Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft. It is also responsible for training Orion maintenance personnel.

With the RAAF's retirement of the AP-3Cs with Boeing P-8 Poseidons, No. 292 Squadron will remain part of No. 92 Wing and will begin the first local training course using the new type. A new operational conversion facility has been constructed at Edinburgh to facilitate this training.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Kayanne H for again taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©