Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 Bizjet VH-WMY Calls into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour - Plus More!

On Thursday 5 February, Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin), Ararat and Tamworth to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

File photo

VH-WMY then returned to Moorabbin.

While McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 421" visited Gladstone Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Raytheon B200 King Air VH-NSN as "Machflight 73" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville and then departed to Brisbane.  It flew back to Cairns in the afternoon. 

Air Central West Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR visited Rockhampton Airport from its Longreach Airport base.

And late on Wednesday 4 February, Air Link (Dubbo) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SEQ visited Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Archerfield.

Finally, also on Thursday 5 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-003 as "Dragon 04" departed RAAF Base Amberley to complete a near 2-hour sortie to the East of Sunshine Coast, before then flying up to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before then heading back out to a more then one hour sortie at the same area before returning to Amberley.

Photo taken by Lee Holloway  ©

ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31-350 VH-MJA 'ZD110' Arrives into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 28 November, ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31-350 VH-MJA as ZD110 was noted arriving into Mackay Airport from Townsville.  It seems to be staying and possibly undergoing planned maintenance.

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Air Central West (Longreach) Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR completed a flight from Longreach Airport to near Clifton Hills in South Australia before then returning to Longreach Airport and then completing a flight to Rockhampton Airport and back to Longreach Airport.

Aero Express Investments (Brisbane) Diamond DA62 VH-8R8 flew up from Archerfield to The Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 30 November, VH-8R8 flew from Shute Harbour to Longreach Airport and then back to Archerfield.

Western Downs Civil (Chinchilla) Raytheon B200 King Air VH-85H was noted flying between what seems to be its Chinchilla Aerodrome base and the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

And Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service (CQ Rescue) / CQ Aeromedical Leonardo AW139 helicopter VH-XQ9 flew down from Mackay Airport to Bundaberg Airport and then Archerfield presumably for planned maintenance.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjets A56-002 & A56-003 Both Call into Longreach Airport Bringing PM Morrison to Regional Qld

On Tuesday 19 January, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjets were noted calling into Longreach Airport, bring Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and entourage to Central Western Queensland at the start of a regional tour.

 Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP/NCA NewsWire

A56-002 as "Envoy 11" and A56-003 as "Envoy 12" both landed at Longreach Airport in quick succession from Canberra.  They both departed back to Canberra a short time later.

It is believed that the Prime Minister and others then completed visits to other nearby towns on board RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport A34-009 as "Envoy 10" which landed at Longreach yesterday - see Blog post below.

Ann Leahy / https://www.northweststar.com.au/

On Tuesday 19 January, it departed Longreach Airport for Quilpie - as pictured above. 

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 19 January, fellow C-27J Spartan A34-010 as "Wallaby 35" also landed at Longreach Airport but from RAAF Base Amberley.  Later, it departed to hold over Quilpie for nearly two hours, acting as a standby aircraft. 

Later on Tuesday, A34-009 "Envoy 10" departed Quilpie to Winton. While A34-010 "Wallaby 35" returned to Longreach Airport for fuel before it then took off and completed more holding near Winton.

And later still, A34-009 "Envoy 10" departed Winton for Cloncurry Airport where it appears to be spending the night. While A34-010 "Wallaby 35" returned to land at Longreach Airport.

Finally, it's worth mentioning that on Monday 18 January, Bundaberg-based Cessna 414A Chancellor VH-CBT and locally-based Air Central West Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR flew important people into Longreach Airport from Rockhampton and Kingaroy respectively in preparation for the Prime Minister's visit.

Poolhurst Aviation Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VTF Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 8 July, Brisbane-based Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VTF was spotted arriving into Mackay Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

After some time on the ground, it returned to the Sunny Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 8 July, Longreach-based Air Central West Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR departed Longreach Airport for Mackay and then Rockhampton Airports.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 9 July, VH-TNR departed Rockhampton Airport for the Sunshine Coast.

VH-TNR also looked to complete a flight to Emerald Airport and back to Longreach Airport on Sunday 5 July.

And up the road at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport, but on Tuesday 7 July, Cairns-based Piper PA-31-350 VH-OCF was noted visiting.

Finally, FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB was noted visiting Mackay Airport twice on Monday 6 July.  It flew between Toowoomba and Archerfield.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

A Pair of Cessna Citation Bizjets - VH-NEQ & VH-PSU - Pop into Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 8 April, it was a busy day at Longreach Airport with a nice mix of corporate bizjet and turboprop and other light General Aviation (GA) aircraft all passing through.

AirMed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-NEQ was noted arriving from Bankstown.  It then departed to Cairns.

File photo

While the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU was noted arriving from Brisbane via Winton.  It then departed to Mount Isa, again via Winton.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 9 April, VH-PSU was noted passing through Emerald Airport.  It arrived from Mount Isa via Kowanyama and Arukun.  It then departed to Brisbane.

Of the smaller corporate turboprop visitors, Neabrean P/L Cessna 208B Caravan VH-JOZ looked to visit from its Toowoomba base, while Flight One (Services) Beech B200 King Air VH-FON visited from its Archerfield base.

Austrek Aviation Cessna 310R VH-DZX arrived from Toowoomba via Roma Airport.  While locally-based Air Central West Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR continues to complete flights out of and back to Longreach Airport.

UPDATE!  VH-DZX returned to Roma Airport and Toowoomba on Wednesday 10 April.

Finally, General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) AeroCommander 500-S VH-YJM was also noted arriving into Longreach Airport on the week-daily freight flight from Emerald Airport via Barcaldine Airport.

Navair / Wagga Air Centre (Mabena) Piper PA-31 VH-HUW Arrives into Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 2 April, Navair / Wagga Air Centre (Mabena) Piper PA-31 VH-HUW was noted arriving into Longreach Airport from Roma Airport.  It has flown North from its Wagga Wagga base in New South Wales to Roma Airport via Orange on Monday 1 April.

https://www.navair.com.au/

VH-HUW looks to be using the flight number and radio callsign of 'WA658' / "Wagga Air 658" on all of its flights.

Meanwhile, calling into Rockhampton Airport, also on Tuesday 2 April, Edwards Coaches Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-OXY was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).  It later departed to its Armidale base in New South Wales.

Finally, back out in the Central West in recent days, over the weekend on Sunday 31 March, Barcaldine-based George Bourne & Associates Beech / Raytheon A36 Bonanzas VH-COR and VH-CCY were noted flying together around Longreach.

While Longreach-based Air Central West Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR has been busy over the last week or so flying in and out of Longreach Airport to all manner of locations including Toowoomba, Stonehenge, Roma, Cunnamulla, Windorah and Jundah.

Of interest, VH-TNR has been registered to Air Central West since 1978!

A Few Light GA Aircraft Call into Longreach Airport incl Record-breaking Around-the-World Pilot Lachie Smart in his Cirrus SR22 VH-IBC

As we've been reporting on our Facebook page, 18-year-old Lachlan Smart is in the final stages of a record-breaking solo around-the-world flight in Cirrus SR22 VH-IBC.  On Tuesday 23 August, Lachie piloted VH-IBC into Longreach Airport from Darwin.

He is expected to complete media and other commitments including a meet-and-greet at the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach on Wednesday 24 August before departing to Bundaberg Airport on Thursday 25 August.

Lachie is expected to touch down in the rum city in VH-IBC at around 12.00pm on Thursday.  He will be giving a presentation of his world record breaking flight at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation in Bundaberg on Friday 26 August at 3.30pm.

Lachie will then head 'home' to the Sunshine Coast early on Saturday 27 August, completing his record-breaking solo circumnavigation of the globe.

Lachie will be 18 years, 7 months and 21 days when he touches down back at the Sunny Coast.  While the record is key to this journey, it was never the motivation for Smart to pack his life into a single engine plane to fly across vast masses of water, stopping in 24 locations and 15 countries along the way.

Read more about this remarkable young man at:  http://www.wingsaroundtheworld.com.au/

Meanwhile, several light General Aviation (GA) aircraft have also called into Longreach Airport over the last couple of days including Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air A32-670 which touched down on Tuesday 23 August from Canberra as "Consort 89".  It looked to depart to Townsville later in the evening before returning to Longreach on Wednesday 24 August from Winton and then later departing to Charleville and points towards the South-East.

A couple of other Super King Air turboprops in the form of AirServices Australia / Pearl Aviation Hawker Beechcraft B300 VH-FIY and Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 VH-SGQ also called into Longreach Airport on Tuesday 23 August.

VH-FIY arrived from Brisbane and later departed to Tennant Creek, while VH-SGQ arrived from Toowoomba and stayed for the night.  It departed to Brisbane on Wednesday 24 August.

Also visiting Longreach Airport on Wednesday 24 August were New South Wales based Beech 58 Baron VH-JML which arrived from Charleville, while New South Wales-based Rockwell 685 Commander VH-NJT departed Longreach for Blackall, Charleville, Dubbo and Bankstown.  VH-NJT looked to arrive at Longreach Airport on Monday 22 August.

Seen on the ground at Longreach Airport on Tuesday 23 August was Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation SAAB 340B VH-VEM, while Air Queensland Piper PA-31-350 VH-XLB was also noted visiting Longreach Airport on Tuesday 23 August.  It arrived from Mareeba and later departed to Roma and its Redcliffe base.

Of interest, VH-XLB is pictured above at Gladstone Airport on Sunday 21 August.  It had earlier arrived from Redcliffe and departed to Mackay and Townsville.

On Monday 22 August, Georgetown-based Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu VH-TPM arrived into Longreach Airport from Maungindi.  It later departed to Burketown and Groote Eylandt (Northern Territory).  And locally-based Air Central West Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR departed Longreach Airport for Kingaroy and Roma.

Finally, on Sunday 21 August, and for the second Sunday in-a-row, Hawker Beechcraft C90GTi King Air VH-JJU called into Longreach Airport while flying from Brisbane to its Cloncurry home.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Michael Fleetwood  ©

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 Jet VH-QQY Touches Down at Longreach Airport - Plus More!

Certainly an interesting arrival into Longreach Airport on Friday 22 July with Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jet touching down from Brisbane on what looked to be a charter flight as UTY3380.

It remained on the ground at Longreach for much of the weekend and returned to Brisbane on Sunday 24 July as UTY3381.

Meanwhile, also spotted on the ground at Longreach Airport on Friday 22 July soon after it arrived from Cairns and Charters Towers was Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-JVL which has recently taken up operations with Victoria-based Sharp Aviation.

Of interest, VH-JVL previously operated for the Darwin-based charter company Hardy Aviation.

It appears that VH-JVL is operating a tourist charter flight around Queensland from Melbourne (Essendon) with it noted visiting various towns particularly around Far North Queensland and even to Groote Eylandt.  On Saturday 23 July VH-JVL departed Longreach for Rolleston.

UPDATE!  On Monday 25 July, VH-JVL departed Rolleston for Scone and Essendon.

Also calling into Longreach Airport but on Saturday 23 July on yet another tour from Adelaide to Far North Queensland was Dick Lang's Dessert-Air Safaris' Beech B200 VH-ODI.  It touched down from Undara.  On Sunday 24 July, VH-ODI departed Longreach Airport for Innamincka, Leigh Creek before returning to Adelaide.

Finally, locally-based Air Central West Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR returned home from Charleville and Augathella on Friday 22 July, while Piper PA-31-350 VH-TWR was noted departing its Archerfield base on Sunday 24 July.

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Bizjets and More at Longreach Airport - Qld Gvt Hawker 850XP VH-SGY - Citation VH-KXL

A few interesting movements at Longreach Airport over the previous couple of days including visits by a nice pair of local bizjets.

File photo taken by 'AC'  ©

The Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY touched down at Longreach Airport from Brisbane and Roma on Thursday 21 January.  After spending the night, VH-SGY departed Longreach to Windorah before returning to Brisbane.

Another bizjet to visit Longreach Airport on Friday 22 January was Edwards Coaches Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 VH-KXL which made a late night arrival from Armidale and the Gold Coast.  It later departed to Mount Isa where it landed in the wee small hours of Saturday 23 January.

Then, later on Saturday 23 January, VH-KXL returned to Longreach Airport from Mount Isa and later departed to Brisbane and Armidale.

Meanwhile, on Friday 22 January, Air Link Piper PA-31-350 VH-DVR called into Longreach Airport from Dubbo and Charleville.  It later departed further North to Normanton.

Finally, a couple of light General Aviation (GA) movements on Saturday 23 January included the return of Julia Creek-based Beech A36 Bonanza VH-BZY which arrived from Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast-based Mooney M20J VH-KDC was noted operating a return flight from Longreach to Winton and locally-based Air Central West Cessna T210N Centurion VH-AKY departing Longreach to Toowoomba.

Stephen Gardener / http://flightaware.com/

VH-AKY is shown above with fellow Air Central West operated Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR.