A Few Light Aircraft Spotted at Gladstone Airport This Week

Over the course of the last week, local plane spotters Jamie and Tash have captured some great photos of some of the interesting and many and varied light aircraft and helicopters to call into Gladstone Airport.

On Tuesday 11 March, Julia Creek-based Amateur-build Lancair Super ES VH-TEJ was spotted departing Gladstone.  It was also noted at Rockhampton this week too.

Also on Tuesday, locally-based Nixon Communication Cessna 210 VH-NCG was spotted departing to Archerfield.  It was noted returning 'home' later in the week on Thursday 13 March.

On Wednesday 12 March, Avcair (Sutherland Aviation) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-WXC popped into Gladstone. Its exacts movements are unclear, it was presumed that VH-WXC was operating some sort of Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter to industrial city.

Some great helicopter action on Wednesday came in the form of AeroPower Hughes Helicopters 369FF VH-PLF which was captured departing for a powerline inspection.

It returned a little while later and remained parked.

Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six VH-JPR was also spotted departing Gladstone on Wednesday.

And finally on Wednesday 12 March, Bayswater Road / Australian Aerial Mapping (AAM) Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-26 Islander VH-RQW was photographed arriving from parts unknown.

On Thursday 13 March, VH-RQW made an early morning departure again for parts unknown.

Also on Thursday, a frequent visitor to Gladstone was spotted again in the form of Papam Cessna 402B VH-RLX which was presumably in town to again perform some aerial surveys.

Another frequent visitor in the form of McDermott Aviation / Machjet Aerospatiale AS.355F1 helicopter VH-YUR was spotted.

Thangool-based Cessna 172 VH-SXG was also spotted departing for parts unknown.

Finally, on Friday 14 March, Beech A36 VH-MMB of Peace Aviation was photographed making an early morning departure.

And locally-based Cessna 182 VH-NCG of Nixon Communications was spotted arriving into Gladstone.  It reportedly later departed to Charleville and Broken Hill.

Certainly some great light movements into Gladstone over the week, and at the time of writing, the 'usual' Our Airline B737-300 jet charter to Gladstone looks like arriving later today on Saturday 15 March.

Thanks guys for the great photos!

Photos taken by Jamie and Tash  ©

Also spotted at Rockhampton Airport on Sunday - Skytrans Dash-8 VH-QQL & RAAF Rescue S-76 VH-LHN

For the second time is under a month, Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQL has spent the day on the ground at Rockhampton Airport after flying in from Cairns on Sunday 22 September.

Local plane spotter Travis W captured a couple of images of the Dash 8 parked on the Northern end of the Rockhampton Airport apron after it had earlier arrived as SKP1038. It eventually departed back to Cairns later in that evening as SKP1039.

Meanwhile, as he was catching VH-QQL, Travis took a few images of Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWN departing to Brisbane as UTY2357 - a flight operated on behalf of QantasLink.

Eagle-eyed spotters would note (like me!) that VH-XWN has been painted in Alliance Airlines' full livery after flying in a plain all white livery for some time.

Another interesting visitor to pass through Rockhampton Airport on Sunday 22 September was Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Rescue Sikorsky S-76A VH-LHN (which is operated by CHC Helicopters).  The chopper - using the appropriate radio callsign "Chopper 3" - departed for parts unknown.

Travis also spotted AeroPower Hughes Helicopters 369FF VH-PLF (485).  VH-PLF has been around Rockhampton for a few days with local plane spotter 'IAD' also capturing VH-PLF on Tuesday 17 September.

He also photographed Surveillance Australia / Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Cobham Aviation) Dash-8-202 VH-ZZB at Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 17 September.

Some great images from the Rocky spotters - my sincere thanks to these fantastic gentlemen for sending through their images!

Photos taken by Travis Whiting and 'IAD'  ©