Four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopters Touch Down at Rockhampton Airport for Exercise Wallaby 2023

An awesome sight and sound on Thursday 31 August, as four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters arrived into Rockhampton Airport ahead of the Singapore Armed Forces' Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23).

They arrived as one flight of four, flying up direct from their base at Oakey. They were identified as 88167, 88170, 88161 and 88163, and were heard to use the radio callsign of "Celtic".

Of interest, the Chinook helicopters are flown by the RSAF's 127 Helicopter Squadron which is based at the Sembawang Air Base (SBAB) in Singapore, however as mentioned, with a detachment at Oakey.

The squadron goes by the motto of "Strength, Courage, Swiftness", the motto is supported by the squadron motif, a white horse in full battle armour.

The still fairly new CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters are making their third visit to Rocky for Exercise Wallaby and there is information suggesting that more will be arriving on Friday.

UPDATE!  Indeed on Friday 1 September, a further four RSAF Chinook helicopters arrived into Rockhampton Airport also from Oakey - see Blog post above.  To have eight on the ground is a record number compared to previous years!

Meanwhile, it appears that the four RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters delivered earlier in the week on board the Antonov An-124 have had their rotor blades attached and should be heading off for test flights in the coming days.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotted John L for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by John Lee  ©

Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 Bizjet VH-TEY Arrives into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 31 August, Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY flew up from Archerfield to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport. At the time of writing, it appears to be staying for at least the night.

File photo

UPDATE!  On Saturday 2 August, VH-TEY departed Proserpine Airport and returned to Archerfield. 

Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU visited Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon) via Melbourne (Moorabbin).

MT Air Charters / Pilatus Australia Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet VH-PIL landed at Longreach Airport from Albury and Newcastle (Williamtown) before it then departed to Dinah Island.

And Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-OLJ also landed at Longreach Airport but after flying out from Archerfield and Birdsville.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 31 August, McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-ZPY as 'MC38' / "Machflight 38" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Friday 1 September, VH-ZPY as "Machflight 38" departed Rockhampton Airport for the Sunshine Coast. 

Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12//47E NGX VH-8HP flew from Keeroongooloo to Mackay Airport.

And Brisbane-based Hewitt Cattle Australia P/L SOCATA TBM 700 VH-PGA, which had flown from Archerfield to Alice Springs via Charleville Airport earlier in the day, landed at Longreach Airport from Alice Springs and then departed to Degunnie.

Finally, also on Thursday 31 August, various light aircraft have started flying up to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour for their annual fly-in and Runway Dinner which is being held this coming weekend.  Cirrus SR22s VH-SRY (Victoria) and VH-CSW (New South Wales) flew up via Charleville and Roma Airports respectively, while Amateur-built Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey LSX VH-XWW flew to there from Iveragh.

Photo taken by Graham Aspinall  ©

Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ "Navair 187" Calls into Mackay and Proserpine Airports - Plus More!

On Wednesday 30 August, Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ as "Navair 187" was noted departing Mackay Airport for Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) and then Sydney.

File photo

It appears to have flown North from Sydney to Proserpine Airport and then Mackay Airport on Monday 28 August.

Of interest, fellow Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 VH-HQK as "Navair 141" called into Charleville Airport twice during a busy of flying between Dubbo, Cessnock and Charleville Airport to Mount Isa and back.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 30 August, Flight One (Services) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-UVH visited Moura Aerodrome from Toowoomba.

Microflite Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-8MF flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

UPDATE!  On Friday 1 September, VH-8MF departed the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbor for Windorah.

RDO Equipment Co. Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH departed Emerald Airport for Monto Aerodrome and then back to Emerald Airport.  It then flew down to Toowoomba.

VH-WPH had originally arrived into Emerald Airport from Toowoomba on Tuesday 29 August.

And locally-based Keppel High Wing Cessna 182T VH-LJE departed Rockhampton Airport to Archerfield on an Angel Flight before later returning to Rockhampton Airport during the evening.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Omni Air International Boeing B777-2U8(ER) N828AX Pops into Rockhampton Airport

Perhaps the final heavy jet arrival into Rockhampton Airport now that joint Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 (TS23) has concluded with Omni Air International Boeing B777-2U8(ER) N828AX touching down from Townsville as OAE1283 during the late afternoon on Wednesday 30 August. It had earlier arrived into North Queensland from Guam.

After (we assume) loading a flight of personnel and bags, N828AX departed to Brisbane before then later departing back to Guam.  It then continued to Honolulu (Daniel K Inouye International) Airport.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter John L for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by John Lee  ©

The Two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130H Hercules Transport Aircraft '731' & '735' Also Depart Rockhampton Airport

Also on Wednesday 30 August, the visiting pair of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft were also photographed as they also departed Rockhampton Airport. The two Hercs, '735' and '731', departed in quick succession for Darwin, again using the callsigns of SAF6339 and SAF6340 respectively, but flying as "Singa 6339 Combined".

As posted below, both Hercs had arrived Rockhampton Airport from Singapore via Darwin the previous afternoon.

Both Hercs came to Rockhampton Airport in support of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23) which was due to 'start' this week.

Be sure to stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates on Exercise Wallaby 2023 via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to the local photographer Steve V for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Great Photos as Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M-150 UR-82029 Departs Rockhampton Airport

On Wednesday 30 August, the visiting Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M-150 UR-82029 was photographed as it departed Rockhampton Airport for Johor Baru in Malaysia as ADB398F.

As posted below, it arrived the previous day from from Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore and brought four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters to Rockhampton Airport for the upcoming Singaproe Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23).

Be sure to stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates on Exercise Wallaby 2023 via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to the local photographer Steve V for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©