Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP Bizjet VH-SGY Arrives into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport

On Wednesday 22 July, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY was noted arriving into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

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It touched down from Brisbane.

At the time of writing, it appears that VH-SGY is remaining at Hervey Bay at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 23 July, VH-SGY departed Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport for Brisbane.

Meanwhile, at Bundaberg Airport, the locally-based Greensill Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ was noted flying out to Sydney on Tuesday 21 July and back to Bundy on Wednesday 22 July.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Local Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) 1124A Westwind II Bizjet VH-IER at Maryborough and Bundaberg Airports

On Monday 20 July, locally-based Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) 1124A Westwind II bizjet VH-IER was noted departing its Maryborough Airport Base on a short flight to Bundaberg Airport before it then flew all the way down to Wollongong.

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It is unclear the reason behind its flight although one report suggested it was a training and / or currency flight.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 21 July, VH-IER looked to complete a series of short flights start out of Wollongong and eventually finishing back there after the sun had set.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 23 July, VH-IER looked to return to its Maryborough Airport base from Wollongong.

Meanwhile, also flying out of the Wide Bay region also on Monday 20 July was Brisbane-based Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 bizjet VH-YWS which was noted departing Bundaberg Airport for Archerfield.  VH-YWS had arrived into Bundy from its Archerfield base on Friday 17 July.

While also on Monday 20 July, Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LYT departed Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport for Maryborough Airport before it then flew out to Wanella Station on a FIFO charter flight.  It later departed back to Hervey Bay Airport.

While calling into Rockhampton Airport, also on Monday 20 July was Austrek Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-WXO.  It looks to complete two visits to the beef capital each week with this Monday’s flights arriving from Toowoomba and Archerfield before departing back to Toowoomba, although this time it flew via the Sunshine Coast.

And also on Monday 20 July, Raytheon A36 Bonanza VH-YGM was noted departing Rockhampton Airport for Orange.  It had arrived from Scone on Sunday 19 July.

While Gulf Coast Aviation Textron Aviation (Cessna) T206H VH-KQM also departed Rockhampton Airport on Monday 20 July but bound for Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport. It had arrived from Vanrook Station via Prosie on Sunday 19 July.

Finally, it appears that last Friday 17 July, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY completed a quick visit to Bundaberg Airport while flying out of and back to its Sunshine Coast base.

Photo taken by David Geck  ©

Often Visiting American-Registered Eclipse EA500 Bizjet N257AK Back at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour

On Sunday 19 July, the often visiting American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK was noted arriving back into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour from Archerfield.  The sleek little corporate bizjet is reportedly based at Archerfield.

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N257AK looks to complete weekly visits of between 3-4 days.  It is reported that the small Eclipse is flown by a local Airlie Beach businessman.

UPDATE! On Thursday 23 July, N257AK departed the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour and returned to Archerfield.

Nice!

Photo taken by Lee Holloway  ©

Hevilift Australia ATR 72-500 VH-YWV Pops into Rockhampton Airport Late Saturday

Late on Saturday 18 July, Hevilift Australia ATR 72-500 VH-YWV was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport on what looked to be a closed charter flight from Far North Queensland.

It initially departed Townsville for Cairns before continuing all the way up to Horn Island as HT709.  VH-YWV then flew down to Rockhampton Airport before returning to Townsville but as HT710.

Nice!

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-001 "Envoy 17" Calls into Gladstone Airport

Making a rare weekend appearance at CQ Airports on Saturday 18 July was Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-001.  It was spotted at Gladstone Airport after it had earlier arrived from Townsville and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airports.

The sleek bizjet which is flown by the RAAF's VIP 34 Squadron was returning South on a training flight after it had flown up from Canberra to Townsville via Coffs Harbour, Bundaberg, Hamilton Island and Cairns Airports the previous day.

After around an hour on the ground, A56-001 "Envoy 17" was noted departing Gladstone Airport for the Gold Coast, Tamworth and then Canberra.

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

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

Hinterland Aviation Cessna 402C VH-TFK Pops into Rockhampton Airport

On Saturday 18 July, Hinterland Aviation Cessna 402C VH-TFK was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It arrived from and later departed back to its Cairns base as 'HND637' / "Hinterland 637".

Christian Hartan / https://www.jetphotos.com/

As reported below, the Cairns-based charter operator has been providing 1-2 daily FIFO charter flights from Rockhampton Airport to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's Carmichael Coal Mine site and back.

Meanwhile, on Friday 17 July, Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 VH-LZK completed two trips out to Labona and back to Rockhampton Airport but then fellow Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 VH-TFS returned to Rockhampton Airport during the early evening for a stint based out of Rocky.

VH-LZK had only arrived into Rockhampton Airport the previous week - see Blog post below!

QantasLink RPT Flights to Hamilton Island Airport Resume with Dash-8-Q400 Service from Brisbane

Interesting to note on Saturday 18 July, QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOV arrived into Hamilton Island Airport as QLK2824 from Brisbane.  This is the first Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) flights to touch down on Hamilton Island since it was 'shut down' as a result of Coronavirus Pandemic back in March.

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It is believed that Island staff and permanent residents were on the flight as Hamilton Island remains shut down and is not expected to open back up to guests until August.

VH-QOV then returned to Brisbane from Hamo as QLK2825.

UPDATE!  On Monday 20 July, there was another flights into Hamilton Island Airport with fellow QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOC operating as QLK2824/5 again from and back to Brisbane.

Brisbane-based Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 Bizjet VH-YWS Pops into Bundaberg Airport

Also on Friday 17 July, Brisbane-based Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 bizjet VH-YWS was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport.  It arrived from its Archerfield base.

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At the time of writing, it appears that VH-YWS is staying in the Rum City for at least the night.

UPDATE!  After staying for the weekend, on Monday 20 July, VH-YWS departed Bundaberg Airport and returned to Archerfield.

Photo taken by Ryan Hothersall  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-001 Completes Airwork at CQ Airports - Spotted at Bundaberg Airport

On Friday 17 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-001 was noted in the skies of Central Queensland, completing what looked to be a training flight out of Canberra.

It was heard to be flying as "Envoy 17" and was photographed above and below at Bundaberg Airport after it had earlier arrived from Canberra and Coffs Harbour.

After a short time on the ground, A56-001 departed for Hamilton Island Airport before eventually completing a missed approach at Cairns and then landing at Townsville where it appeared to be spending the night.

This is the second training flight this week by a RAAF VIP 34 Squadron aircraft, with Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-001 "Envoy 13" completing the same flight over the previous two days.

It is assumed that A56-001 will call into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) and Rockhampton Gladstone Airports on Saturday 18 July on its journey back South.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 18 July, A56-001 "Envoy 17" indeed popped into Proserpine Airport but it then flew down to Gladstone Airport where it landed for a short time - see Blog post below!

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

All photos taken by Peter Sajko  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-207 Completes a Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Friday 17 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-207 was spotted completing a missed approach and low overshoot at Rockhampton Airport.  It was heard to be flying as "Stallion 26".

The C-17 flew up from RAAF Base Amberley and after completing the airwork, it returned there flying an inland route overhead both Emerald and Roma.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Steve V for allowing to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©