Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 - Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) Korea Aerospace (KAI) MUH-1 Marineon Helicopter Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 31 July, the combined military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 (TS23) threw up a wonderful surprise for local plane spotters and military enthusiasts with this Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) Korea Aerospace (KAI) MUH-1 Marineon helicopter spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

It was heard to be flying as "Orion 17" and possibly arrived from and then later departed back to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship ROKS Marado (LPH-6112, Landing Platform Helicopter) which is currently in waters near the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWTBA).  Some photos of it below are from the Gladstone Port earlier in the month.

What a great surprise!

Meanwhile, also on Monday 31 July, United States Marine Corps (USMC) Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft 168243 (EP-00) and 168217 (EP-01) of VMM-265 'Dragons', flew as "Bowser 31" from Rockhampton Airport to the United States Navy (USN) amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) which is also in Shoalwater Bay.

Later, fellow USMC Osprey 168665 (EP-14) as "Bowser 32" came into Rockhampton Airport from the Ship and back twice.

And the visiting United States Army (US Army) Sikorsky HH-60M medevac Black Hawk helicopters - identified as 20-21134 and 20-21135 - were photographed departing Camp Rocky - the Australian Army Defence Support Unit (DSU) camp adjacent to Rockhampton Airport - for the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as "Dustoff 135".  They later returned to Camp Rocky.

Finally, also on Monday 31 July, two of the visiting Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 jet training aircraft as "Raptor" flew out of Rockhampton Airport to the training area twice during the day.

And the visiting Air Affairs (Australia) LearJet 35 VH-SLD and LearJet 36 VH-SLF as "Bosun 11", and LearJet 36 VH-SLJ as "Blackjack 21", all departed Rockhampton Airport for the Exercise area before later returning to Rockhampton Airport.

Photos taken by Travis Whiting, Jamie C, Tash C and Steve Vit  ©

The Nine RoKAF Black Eagles KAI T-50B Jets - Plus C-130 Hercules Transport Aircraft - All Depart Rockhampton Airport for Darwin and then Home to South Korea

As expected, on Saturday 11 March, the visiting deployment of The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) "Black Eagles" aerobatic team departed Rockhampton Airport for Darwin via Cairns and RAAF Base Tindal at Katherine, as they continued their journey home to South Korea from Avalon Airport where they participated at the recently completed Australian International Airshow.

As with their arrival the previous day, the Black Eagles' nine KAI T-50B trainers departed in spectacular fashion, flying in three-ship formations as "Bravo Echo 01/04/07".

A little later, the RoKAF Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules 45-750 as "Argo 102" also departed Rockhampton Airport but directly to Tindal before continuing to Darwin.

And C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 "Argo 103" also departed Rockhampton Airport but for Darwin.

Of interest, the third RoKAF Lockheed C1-30J-30 Hercules 45-747 "Argo 101" was heard to also (possibly) fly into Darwin up via inland Queensland.

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for providing us with such a great coverage of the arrival of these awesome visitors to the region!

Photos taken by Jake Wallace and Daniel Bishop  ©

The RoKAF Black Eagles Arrive Back into Rockhampton Airport After Avalon Airshow - 9 KAI T-50B Jets and 2 C-130 Hercules

On Friday 10 March, The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) "Black Eagles" aerobatic team arrived back into Rockhampton Airport for another overnight stop while heading home to South Korea after participating in the Australian International Airshow.

A total of nine of the team's KAI T-50B trainers landed at Rockhampton Airport after flying up from RAAF Base Williamtown.  They had flown into there from Melbourne (Avalon) the previous day.

The T-50B jets travelled in three flights as "Bravo Echo 01/04/07" and carry the military serial numbers of 10-0052, 10-0059, 15-0084, 10-0053, 10-0055, 10-0051, 10-0058, 10-0060, and 10-0057.

The aircraft will depart Saturday morning for Mount Isa and then Darwin before then continuing home to South Korea over the coming days.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 11 March, the Black Eagles departed Rockhampton Airport for Cairns, RAAF Base Tindal (Katherine) and Darwin.

Meanwhile, arriving into Rockhampton Airport late on Thursday 9 March, was RoKAF C-130J-30 45-750 "Argo 102" after flying up directly from Avalon.  It was photographed still parked in the rain early on Friday 10 March.

And during the early evening, also on Friday 10 March, RoKAF Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 as "Argo 101" also arrived into Rockhampton Airport, also directly from Avalon.

It is expected that both Hercs will also depart on Saturday 11 March, with one possibly following the Black Eagles to Mount Isa Cairns and Tindal while the other is expected to fly up to Darwin.

The Black Eagles Aerobatic Team originally left an air base in Wonju, 130 kilometres east of Seoul, midway through February. It is the first time they have travelled to Australia to participate in the biennial Australian International Airshow and Aerospace Defence Exposition which has just been held at Avalon Airport in Geelong.

For the show, the Korean Air Force has mobilized some 120 personnel, including 11 pilots, as well as the nine T-50B supersonic jets and three C-130 transport aircraft.

Of interest, The Republic of Korea Air Force aerobatic team was formed on December 12, 1994, and flew six Cessna A-37B Dragonfly airplanes.  It disbanded temporarily after the 2007 Seoul Air Show and reformed upon the arrival of the new T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft, codenamed T-50B, in 2010.

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for providing us with such a great coverage of the arrival of these awesome visitors to the region!

Photos taken by Scott Harris, Trevor Hardsman, and Jake Wallace  ©