Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) ANZAC Day 2021 Flypast Details for Central Queensland Sunday

With ANZAC Day on tomorrow, Sunday 25 April, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has released details of planned flypasts during Queensland commemorations - including some Central Queensland locations.  ANZAC Day also holds special significance for the RAAF this year, following the marking of its 100th birthday on 31 March 2021.

Details from the RAAF 'Flying Operations' website for Queensland only (https://www.airforce.gov.au/operations/flying-operations/) indicate a single F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft from Number 1 Squadron based at RAAF Base Amberley will conduct a flypast of ANZAC Day commemoration activities on Sunday 25 April around Queensland, including in the Fraser Coast region at:

Fraser Island - 11.36am

Hervey Bay and Pialba - 11.40am

Buxton - 11.44am

Bargara - 11.48am

Burnett Heads - 11.49am

Rosedale - 11.54am

Calliope - 12.05pm

Monto - 12.15pm

Meanwhile, a RAAF C-17A Globemaster transport aircraft from Number 36 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley is expected to flypast at several locations including:

Bundaberg - 9.05am

Maryborough - 10.00am

Agnes Water - 10.22am

Gladstone - 10.32am

Elliott Heads - 11.25am

Moore Park Beach - 11.40am

Kingaroy - 12.12pm

Gayndah - 12.30pm

And finally, a single RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft from Number 35 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley is expected to flypast at locations in North Queensland including some in CQ at:

Charters Towers - 9.30am

Airlie Beach - 10.15am

Daydream Island - 10.20am

Hamilton Island - 10.25am

ANZAC Day is a time to reflect on the contribution made by past and present service personnel who have displayed great courage, discipline and self-sacrifice in choosing a life of service to their country.

The RAAF 'Flying Operations' also reminds everyone that "All Air Force flypasts can be cancelled or changed subject to weather, operational requirements or other aviation considerations. For public safety, drones must not be operated in the vicinity of flypasts."

Photos taken by John Van Den Bosch and James Saunders  ©

Air Whitsunday Seaplanes Operations now at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Joining GSL Aviation

During this last week, Air Whitsunday Seaplanes has re-located its flying base and office from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

File photo

The moves comes two months after fellow Whitsundays-based tour and transfer company GSL Aviation who also moved their flying base and office also to Proserpine Airport from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

GSL Aviation aircraft at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport  (File photo)

With major infrastructure works underway at the Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport, there are new administration areas and tour booking desks within the expanding terminal building, with passenger boarding areas looking to take place on the also expanding Airport parking apron.

Overall, there seems to have been generally mixed reviews of the move of both GSL Aviation and Air Whitsunday Seaplanes, although comments following some of our earlier Facebook posts were generally supportive suggesting that the closer access to the inbound Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) traffic into the region at Proserpine would be most advantageous for both companies and their flights, especially for passengers looking for quicker transfers to the nearby Whitsunday Islands.

Despite some early confusion and "chaos" immediately following their moves, both Air Whitsunday Seaplanes’ and GSL Aviation's operations are now both moving ahead out of Prosie at full speed!

For further information, or to make a booking for one of their transfer or scenic flights, contact either:

Air Whitsunday Seaplanes:
Phone: + 61 7 4946 9111
Email: fly@airwhitsunday.com.au
Website: http://www.airwhitsunday.com.au/

GSL Aviation:
Within Australia Phone: 1300 GSL AIR (475 247) or 07 4946 9097
International Phone: + 61 7 4946 9097
Email: info@gslaviation.com.au
Website: http://www.whitsundayscenicflights.com.au/

Photos taken by James Kirk  ©

A Couple of Photos of GSL Aviation Operations now at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport

During this last week, local plane spotter James K popped into the Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and while there were no larger Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) jets on the ground, he did take the time to capture some photos of some of the aircraft and helicopters of Whitsundays-based GSL Aviation following their recent shift in operations from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

The move by GSL Aviation was made at the end of March with their operations commencing at Prosie on Sunday 31 March.  There is now an administration area and tour booking desk within the expanding Proserpine Airport terminal building, with passenger boarding areas looking to take place on the also expanding Proserpine Airport parking apron.  Now all-white Gippsland GA-8 Airvan VH-URB was actually photographed on the parking apron preparing to take its next load of passengers on a flight.

The remainder of the GSL Aviation aircraft and helicopters that were parked in open air parking / storage at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport were parked down on the grassed General Aviation (GA) Area before the main terminal building.

There have been generally mixed reviews of the move, although comments following our Facebook post were generally supportive suggesting that the closer access to the inbound RPT traffic into the region at Proserpine would be most advantageous for GSL Aviation and their flights, especially for passengers looking for quicker transfers to the nearby Whitsunday Islands.  

Despite some early confusion and "chaos" immediately following the move, GSL Aviation's operations are now moving ahead out of Prosie at full speed!

For further information, or to make a booking for one of their transfer or scenic flights, contact GSL Aviation:

Within Australia Phone: 1300 GSL AIR (475 247) or 07 4946 9097

International Phone: + 61 7 4946 9097

Email: info@gslaviation.com.au

Website: http://www.whitsundayscenicflights.com.au/

All photos taken by James Kirk  ©

Australian Army and QGAir Rescue helicopters Continue Relief Effort After Tropical Cyclone Debbie

On Thursday 30 March, Australian Army and QGAir Rescue helicopters have continued their relief efforts in parts of CQ in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

Several helicopters were spotted operating out of Mackay Airport including Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-041.

Australian Army MRH-90s have been joined by Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters which are providing airlift capabilities to affected regions like Bowen and Proserpine.  They are also believed to be providing passenger transfer capabilities as the evacuation of stranded guests from several Whitsunday Island resorts commenced on Thursday 30 March.

A15-306 at Daydream Island with HMAS Melville in the background  (https://www.facebook.com/5thAviationRegiment/)

Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue helicopters continue to operate in the region providing mostly medical evacuation services, but also in one instance, evacuating as many as seven stranded residents from the small town of North Eton near Mackay.  QGAir Rescue Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESZ "Rescue 500" and QGAir Rescue Bell 412 helicopter VH-ESD "Rescue 521" both looked to be based at Mackay Airport on Thursday 30 March and were spotted on the western General Aviation (GA) apron.

Of interest, VH-ESZ was later noted returning South from Mackay to Rockhampton and then Gladstone Airports where it parked for the night.

Meanwhile several civilian helicopters continue to be noted operating in the disaster area - on a mix of airlift and survey flights.  As the photo below shows, Emerald-based Calibre Aviation has welcomed part of the Helitours North Queensland fleet from Cairns with one of their Bell 206 Jetrangers seen completing a survey flight of power line infrastructure for Ergon Energy around Clermont and Emerald.

https://www.facebook.com/calibreaviation/

Back at Mackay Airport, on Thursday 30 March, the pair McDermott Aviation / Heli-Lift Australia AS365N2 Dauphin helicopters - Aerospatiale SA365N1 Dauphin 2 N38MD 'Helitack 429' and Aerospatiale AS-365N-2 Dauphin 2 N365JL 'Helitack 475' - were also spotted on the Western GA Apron.  They seem to be based out of Mackay Airport assisting with the relief effort in the local area.

Nautilus Aviation Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 412EP helicopter VH-ZVP also looked to be parked on the western GA Apron at Mackay Airport assisting with the relief efforts - see photo above.  And Townsville-based Tude's Choppers Aerospatiale AS.350BA Squirrel helicopter VH-IDG was also believed to have visited Mackay Airport during the day.

Finally, also on Thursday 30 March, a pair of Becker Helicopters helicopters were heard completing powerline inspections around parts of CQ.

Bell 206 Jetranger VH-WCF was photographed at Gladstone Airport (above) after it returned from airwork in the area, while Aerospatiale AS.350D Squirrel VH-PIH was heard to depart Rockhampton Airport for airwork around the Moranbah area.

Photos taken by 'AC' and 'Mick'  ©

RAAF Aircraft Visit Rockhampton Airport Saturday - Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 "Regent 33" - And A Pair of King Airs

Aside from more sorties by the four Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 jets that are currently based at Rockhampton Airport, there were a couple of other interesting RAAF aircraft that were spotted calling into Rocky on Saturday 18 July.  Perhaps the nicest - and the one that drew local spotters to Rockhampton Airport - was RAAF Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 which touched down from Sydney as "Regent 33".

As the photos by local plane spotter 'IAD' show, A36-002 brought Prime Minister Tony Abbott to Rocky to meet with local farmers and attend the Paradise Lagoons Campdraft.

A36-002 departed back to Sydney just after dark again as "Regent 33".

Meanwhile, a pair of RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air aircraft were also noted calling into Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 18 July with A32-675 "Dingo 15" arriving from Townsville and departing to RAAF Base Amberley, and A32-426 "Blackduck 7" returning from RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine in the Northern Territory and departing to Darwin a short time later.

Finally, the four RAAF Hawk jets were heard to go on what we could possibly describe as a 'sight-seeing' flight from Rockhampton Airport North via Mackay to the Whitsundays.  Two pairs of Hawks - "Puma" and "Leopard" - were both heard to request clearance to fly over Hamilton Island, Hayman Island and Daydream Island before returning to Rockhampton Airport a little while later.

Thanks to 'IAD' and Isaac M for sending through these great photos!

Photos taken by Isaac Matthews and 'IAD'  ©

Recent Plane and Helicopter Spotting Photos from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour / Airlie Beach

Over the Easter-school holidays, I enjoyed a few days in the lovely Whitsundays, and managed to find some time to make a few visits to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour to take a few photos of the goings-on.

One the main fixed-wing operators at the Airport is Air Whitsunday Seaplanes.  I spotted their classic De Havilland DHC-2 Mk1 Beaver Float Plane VH-AWI.

The other prominent fixed wing operator at the Airport is GSL Aviation.  GSL had no less than four aircraft at the Airport, although seemed to be only operating two of these aircraft.

GSL Aviation has recently taken delivery of Gippsland GA-8 Airvan VH-NOQ from West Australian-based Slingair.  The Airvan is reportedly in town for only a brief time, and could possibly be a 'stop-gap' measure until GSL reportedly take delivery of a Piper PA-31 Navajo.

GSLs other GA-8 Airvan VH-URB continues to operate transfers to Hamilton Island Airport and other locations, along side their Cessna 210 VH-FOC.

Parked outside a hangar nearby was GSL Aviation's Cessna 206 VH-HTO.

Finally, HeliReef Whitsunday (Whitsunday Air Services), which operates transfers out of the Whitsunday Airport to the nearby Whitsunday Islands and to and from Hamilton Island Airport had a variety of helicopters parked at the Airport near the Heli-biz hangar.

Very smart looking Eurocopter EC120B Colibri VH-YWY.

Robinson R-44 VH-HYN.

Robinson R-44 VH-WFF.

Robinson R-44 VH-DCN.

Roinson R-44 VH-KHM.

Lastly, a couple of other helicopters noted at the Whitsunday Airport included former Heli-Aust Bell 206 VH-RMJ.

Also locally-based Bell 407 VH-CMI.

Despite some cloudy, and at times, terrible weather, I had a great time in the Whitsundays enjoying some great plane and helicopter spotting!

Holiday Helicopter Spotting on Daydream Island in the Whitsundays

I've just returned from a week on Daydream Island in the Whitsundays here in Central Queensland. It was a fantastic week filled with snorkeling, bushwalking, lovely food, and plenty of swimming as well as lazing by the pools. I also managed to do some helicopter spotting!

The most frequent visitors during the week was Robinson R-44 II VH-ACN, which is registered to a company at Airlie Beach. This chopper is frequently seen at Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour, from where it operates tranfers from the mainland to Daydream Island. It carries 'Whitsunday Heli Tours' titles.



Another visitor during the week was HeliBiz Robinson R-44 II VH-AIU. This chopper only visited once - so it was lucky that I got to photograph it! VH-AIU wears titles for Hayman Island, which is also in the Whitsundays.


As we were preparing to depart Daydream Island, one final Robinson R-44 in the form of VH-BCJ was noted flying joyflights around Daydream Island - which start from just over $100 for 10 minutes. This R-44 is registered to a company on Hamilton Island, however I believe that it is operated by Heli-Reef Whitsundays.


One other helicopter noted was Whitsunday Air Services Bell 206L-3 VH-VTU. It is pictured earlier this year at Whitsunday Airport as I was enjoying an afternoon dip in the pool on Daydream Island when it visited briefly.