The Two Visiting Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Pilatus PC-21 Forward Air Control Aircraft Depart Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 2 December, the visiting pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Pilatus PC-21 Forward Air Control Aircraft from No. 4 Squadron took to the air out of Rockhampton Airport on a sortie up to the nearby Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and back. They were spotted earlier tucked away in one of the hangars at Rockhampton Airport avoiding the inclement weather.

It is believed the PC-21s flew together as "Mayhem" and rendezvoused with a flight of two RAAF Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft which looked to fly up to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area from RAAF Base Williamtown as "Hunter". They were also joined by RAAF Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-001 "Dragon 01" for air-to-air refuelling and all aircraft operated around Townshend Island before then flying back down to the South-East corner of Queensland.

Afterwards, the F-35s returned to Williamtown and the KC-30A returned to Amberley.

Both PC-21s returned to Rockhampton Airport but then a short while later, departed again but this time back down to the their 'home' at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Of interest, all around the same time, fellow RAAF KC-30A A39-004 "Dragon 02" flew up via inland Queensland with another flight of F-35s believed to be heading to RAAF Base Tindal.

And another RAAF KC-30A, A39-006 "Dragon 12", looked to operated down along the New South Wales coast, possibly with some other aircraft before it then flew up to East of Brisbane where it was then met by a RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-211 "Stallion 40".

The Globemaster flew out from Amberley to operate with the KC-30A before it then flew up to complete a missed approach at Bundaberg Airport before then returning to Amberley.

It appears that fellow RAAF C-17 A41-207 "Stallion 41" also flew out to the KC-30A before returning to circuits at Amberley.

Finally, on Wednesday 1 December, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-010 was noted flying around Miles Airport on a flight out of and back to Amberley as "Kaos 76".

Photos taken by Trevor Hardsman  ©️