And Australian Army Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 Helicopter VH-YBF Ferries South via CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Thursday 8 February, Australian Army (Helicorp) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-YBF was noted ferrying South from Townsville to the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.  It looked to fly South via airwork including missed approaches at Mackay and Bundaberg Airports, plus a fuel stop at Rockhampton Airport.

File photo

VH-YBF was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Finch 22".

This ferry flight comes a day after recently registered (November 2023) now Australian Army (Helicorp) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-YQC was noted ferrying North from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre to Townsville also via some CQ Airports.  It also flew as "Finch 22".

Of interest, VH-YBF joins three other nice helicopters seemingly at Oakey - Nautilus Aviation Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 412EP helicopter VH-ZVP "Rescue 421", Helicorp (Toll Helicopters) Bell Helicopter Textron 412EP VH-LWI "Rescue 901" and NQ Heli-Worx (Townsville) Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) BO 105 S CBS - 4 helicopter VH-JYS.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 8 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-004 as "Wallaby 26" was noted completing airwork around Kingaroy while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

A34-004 returned to the sky after dark but as "Wallaby 40" and again completed more airwork at both Miles and Kingaroy.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©