Monday, October 16, 2023

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16D+ Fighting Falcon Jets - Plus Airbus A330-MRTT '765' - And Lockheed C-130H Hercules '733' - All Depart Rockhampton Airport For Good!

As mentioned below, on Monday 16 October, most of the participating Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) helicopters and aircraft departed Rockhampton Airport for good following their participation in the latest iteration of the Singapore Armed forces Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23).


After arriving the previous after from Singapore, RSAF Airbus A330-243 Multi Role Tanker Transport (A330-MRTT) aircraft '765' departed Rockhampton Airport for Cairns and then Singapore again as "SAF8333".





It went shortly before the four RSAF General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16D+ (F-16D Block 52+ Version) Fighting Falcon jets also departed Rockhampton Airport, also bound for a refuelling stop at Cairns before then continuing to Singapore.





















The four F-16s - 677, 662, 665 and 679 - took to the air again using the ferrying flight callsigns of "SAF 3315A-D".





Lastly, RSAF Lockheed C-130H transport aircraft '733', which had been deployed to Rockhampton Airport for most of the Exercise and completed multiple daily flights to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and back to Rockhampton Airport, also departed to Cairns before then flying onwards to Darwin.



It was heard to use the radio callsign of "SAF6348".

Fellow RSAF C-130H Hercules '731' which arrived the previous day from Darwin as "SAF6348" appeared to break down and reports suggest a quick unload and then re-load of personnel and equipment took place in order to get the serviceable Herc '733' off the ground and on to Cairns and Darwin.


UPDATE!  On Wednesday 18 October, '733' as "SAF6348" departed Darwin for Singapore.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 18 October, '731' as "SAF6342" departed Rockhampton Airport for Darwin with it then continuing to Singapore on Thursday 19 October.

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters at Rockhampton and Cairns for allowing us to share these great photos!

Photos taken by Steve Vit, Jensen Jackson, Graham Aspinall and Trevor Hardsman  ©

No comments:

Post a Comment