Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 - Flight of SIX Australian Army and RNZAF Helicopters as "Chainsaw Combined" Arrives at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 18 July, a massive flight of SIX military helicopters flying as "Chainsaw Combined" were photographed making a spectacular arrival into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.

They were identified as Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) NH Industries NH90 helicopters NZ3306, NZ3303 & NZ3307.

Plus Australian Army Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters A15-301, A15-306 & A15-310.

All six helicopters parked on the crossing Runway 04/22 at Rockhampton Airport.

While Astra Aerospace / Air Affairs (Australia) Learjet 35A bizjet VH-LRH as "Blackjack 11" completed a flight out of and back to Rockhampton Airport.

A third Air Affairs (Australia) Learjet 35A VH-LRX also arrived into Rockhampton Airport from HMAS Albatross at Nowra as 'AJAX19'.

Two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 jets - A27-01 and A27-23 - completed only one afternoon sortie out of and back to Rockhampton Airport as "Puma".

The two Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules (C-130J-30) transport aircraft wearing serials 130617 and 130606 flew down from Townsville as 'CNUK61FLT' / "Canook 61 Flt" into the Shoalwater Bay Training Area before later returning North.

Finally, United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III 05-5146 as 'SHAKA11' was noted on radar climbing out of the Middlemount area.  It is believed to be based at RAAF Base Amberley along with a few other USAF C-17s which are also based there and at other places like Cairns, Townsville and Darwin.

Photos taken by Steve Vit and Scott Harris  ©