Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 - A Big Day of Plane Spotting at Rockhampton Airport - RAAF BAe Hawk 127 lead-in fighter jets Take to the Air - Plus More!

On Tuesday 1 August, it seemed that flight operations following the weekend's sad events in the Whitsundays were starting to return to 'normal' with many different military aircraft and helicopters spotted and noted coming and going from various Central Queensland Airports, including many movements at Rockhampton Airport.

During both the morning and afternoon, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 lead-in fighter jet aircraft A27-20 and A27-02 went out from Rockhampton Airport to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and back as "Raptor".

The deployed Air Affairs (Australia) LearJets were back in the air, all departing Rockhampton Airport for the Exercise area before later returning to Rockhampton Airport.  During the morning, LearJet 36 VH-SLF and VH-SLJ flew as "Bosun 11" while LearJet 35 VH-SLD flew as "Blackjack 21".  Then during the afternoon, VH-SLF and VH-SLJ flew as "Bosun 31" while LearJet 35 VH-SLD flew as "Blackjack 41".

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 1 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-005 as "Valour 02" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from RAAF Base Amberley before it then departed to Townsville.  It later returned to Amberley. 

RAAF Beech 350 Super King Air A32-003 as "Beaufort 14" landed at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from RAAF Base East Sale and Canberra.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 2 August, A32-003 "Beaufort 14" looked to depart Prosie for RAAF Base East Sale.

And a privately registered Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-YKG was heard to fly out of the Oakey Army Aviation Centre as "Firetail 01" up to Roma Airport and then back to Amberley. The "Firetail" callsign is of the Australian Army Aviation Corps. 

Finally, also on Tuesday 1 August, the visiting United States Army (US Army) Sikorsky HH-60M medevac Black Hawk helicopters - identified as 20-21134 and 20-21135 - departed from Camp Rocky to Williamson Airfield within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as "Dustoff 35".

Later, 20-1134 "Dustoff 34" came back into Camp Rocky on a simulated medical evacuation flight. Later, 20-21135 "Dustoff 35" came back in.  And then later still, the two Black Hawks departed out again together as Dustoff 135.

UPDATE!  The two Black Hawks looked to return to Camp Rocky from Williamson Airfield on Wednesday 2 August.

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

Photos taken by John Lee and Scott Harris  ©