Ex Talisman Saber 2017 - Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing B757-200 NZ7572 “Kiwi 496” Pops into Rockhampton Airport

Perhaps one of the final military movements in association with joint Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 (TS17) came to Rockhampton Airport on Monday 31 July with Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing B757-200 NZ7572 touching down from Andersen Air Force Base (AFB) in Guam as "Kiwi 496".

It was promptly loaded with personnel and bags and the B757 departed home to RNZAF Base Ohakea - an operational base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force near Palmerston North - also as "Kiwi 496".

As mentioned below, the HMNZS Canterbury multi-role vessel (MRV) of the Royal New Zealand Navy was docked at the Gladstone Port last week and as posted, RNZAF NH Industries NH90 helicopter NZ3304 was spotted being loaded in preparation for transport back to New Zealand.

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It was joined by fellow NH90 NZ3306 and Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite NZ3618.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos and video!

Photos and video taken by Michael Fleetwood and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Ex Talisman Saber 2017 - Some Photos of Other Australian Defence Force & New Zealand Defence Force Helicopters Around Rockhampton on Thursday

As well as the two Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopter movements outlined in the Blog posts below, on Thursday 20 July, and over the earlier parts of the week, there have been numerous other ADF and other helicopters to call into Rockhampton Airport and 'Camp Rocky' adjacent to the Airport.

Early on Thursday, a pair of NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopters - A40-027 (wearing Royal Australian Navy titles) and A40-024 (wearing Australian Army titles) - were heard flying into the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre using the radio callsign "Crusader" which is of the School of Army Aviation.  Later, local plane spotter Kayanne H was at the right place at the right time as they both called into Rockhampton Airport again as "Crusader".

Later, both MRH-90s returned to Oakey but they flew separately with A40-027 using radio callsign of "Saxon 45" while A40-024 flew as "Saxon 42" - callsigns again of the School of Army Aviation.

Just after sunset, three ADF MRH-90s - A40-021, A40-041 and A40-036 - flew into 'Camp Rocky' - the Australian Army Defence Support Group (DSG) camp adjacent to Rockhampton Airport - arriving from Shoalwater Bay using the formation callsign of "Cracken" (or maybe "Crackin").  They later returned to the Bay.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 19 July, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-037 visited Rockhampton Airport once again as "Poseidon 37".  And Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-021 was also noted calling into Rockhampton Airport as "Destrier 11"

Again over the last couple of days, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite NZ3618 has been noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It was spotted shortly after arriving from Shoalwater Bay late on Thursday 20 July.  It has been heard using the radio callsign of "Seasprite 18". 

And finally, very late on Wednesday 19 July, a single Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) NH90 Helicopter was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport as "Dragon".

Sincere thanks to Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Ex Talisman Saber 2017 - Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Bell 429 'Global Ranger' Helicopter N49-049 Departs Rockhampton Airport on Completion of Deployment

It appears that some of the aircraft and helicopters deployed to Rockhampton Airport for joint Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 (TS17) are starting to return to their 'home' bases given that the Exercise is due to wrap up in the next few days.

On Tuesday 18 July, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Bell 429 'Global Ranger' helicopter N49-049(049) was noted departing Rockhampton Airport for the South and was later noted departing Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport where it appears to have called in for fuel.  It was also noted at the Gold Coast a little later in the day.

Since arriving into Rocky just over a week ago, N49-049 has completed daily flights from Rockhampton Airport into the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and back.  On all of its flights, it was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Medusa 49".

Meanwhile, mostly during daylight hours, several other Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopters - along with the occasional overseas defence force chopper - have been noted calling into Rockhampton Airport and the nearby 'Camp Rocky'.

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-037 continues to make almost daily visits to Rockhampton Airport from and back to Shoalwater Bay as "Poseidon 37".

While unidentified Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopters have been heard calling into both Rockhampton Airport and Camp Rocky as "Destrier 11", "Destrier 12" and "Destier 21".

Finally, over the last couple of days, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite NZ3618 has been noted visiting Rockhampton Airport once again.  It has been heard using the radio callsign of "Seasprite 18".

As mentioned previously, the Seasprite helicopters of the New Zealand Navy are provided by No. 6 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).  The Squadron is equipped with a fleet of four SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopters which are operated by the RNZN and maintained by the RNZAF.  They are primarily used as integrated air assets from the HMNZS Canterbury and the two ANZAC Frigates of the New Zealand Navy, in order to provide a range of capabilities from logistic support to combat operations.

HMNZS Canterbury multi-role vessel (MRV) of the Royal New Zealand Navy is believed to be positioned in the Coral Sea off CQ.

Photos taken by Ash Burggraaff and Ian Hitchcock  ©

Ex Talisman Saber 2017 - Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Helicopters Pop into Rockhampton Airport - NH90 NZ3306 and Seasprite NZ3618

During the afternoon on Wednesday 12 July, a pair of Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) helicopters were noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport and the nearby Australian Army Defence Support Group (DSG) 'Camp Rocky' .

NH90 Helicopter NZ3306 was heard to arrive into 'Camp Rocky' as "Warrior 06".

It later departed in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) but was heard to return to 'Camp Rocky' a little later in the day.

Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite NZ3618 was also heard to call into Rockhampton Airport as "Seasprite 18".

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It later departed North towards Proserpine before it was heard flying off the coast on return to the HMNZS Canterbury multi-role vessel (MRV) of the Royal New Zealand Navy which is presently in the Coral Sea off CQ.  It is believed that the NH90 NZ3306 also returned to the ship a little while later.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite Helicopter NZ3618 Also Pops into Mackay Airport

Early on Monday 3 July, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite NZ3618 was spotted on the ground at Mackay Airport.  It appears that it arrived directly from the HMNZS Canterbury multi-role vessel (MRV) of the Royal New Zealand Navy which is presently in the Coral Sea off CQ.

From Mackay Airport, it is believed that NZ3618 continued further North to Townsville.

As we posted below, NZ3618 popped into Rockhampton Airport during the afternoon on Sunday 2 July - the first visit ever of a New Zealand Defence Force Seasprite helicopter into CQ!

The Seasprite helicopters of the New Zealand Navy are provided by No. 6 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).  The Squadron is equipped with a fleet of four SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopters which are operated by the RNZN and maintained by the RNZAF.  They are primarily used as integrated air assets from the HMNZS Canterbury and the two ANZAC Frigates of the New Zealand Navy, in order to provide a range of capabilities from logistic support to combat operations.

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for capturing these great photos at Mackay and Rockhampton Airports!

Photos taken by 'AC' and Ben O'Dowd  ©

Ex Talisman Saber 2017 - Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite Helicopter NZ3618 Pops into Rockhampton Airport

During the afternoon on Sunday 2 July, a really nice helicopter to pop into Rockhampton Airport during Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 (TS17) was Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite NZ3618.

It is believed to be the first time a New Zealand Defence Force Seasprite helicopter has called into Central Queensland.  It is also believed that NZ3618 flew into Rocky from the HMNZS Canterbury multi-role vessel (MRV) of the Royal New Zealand Navy which is presently in the Coral Sea off CQ.  It was heard to be completing a med-evac flight from the ship to Rocky and was using the radio callsign of "Seasprite 18".

It appears that NZ3618 later returned to the ship.

The Seasprite helicopters of the New Zealand Navy are provided by No. 6 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).  The Squadron is equipped with a fleet of four SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopters which are operated by the RNZN and maintained by the RNZAF.  They are primarily used as integrated air assets from the HMNZS Canterbury and the two ANZAC Frigates of the New Zealand Navy, in order to provide a range of capabilities from logistic support to combat operations.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Kayanne H and Daniel B for being at the right place at the right time and taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and Daniel Bishop  ©