Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft A34-002 at Bundaberg Airport

During the morning on Thursday 19 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-002 was noted completing airwork - and possibly landing - at Bundaberg Airport.

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The Spartan, which was using the radio callsign of "Wallaby 51" looked to fly up from and then later return back to RAAF Base Amberley.

Then during the afternoon, A34-002, this time as "Wallaby 52", again flew up from Amberley to complete more airwork and then actually being heard to land at Bundaberg Airport for a short time.  It then returned to Amberley.

Photo taken by James Kirk  ©

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Arrives into Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 18 November, Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was back in CQ, this time landing at Emerald Airport after flying up from its Sunshine Coast base.

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At the time of writing, it appears to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 19 November, VH-MMC flew up to Clermont Aerodrome before returning to the Sunshine Coast.

Also on Wednesday 18 November, the visiting Gulf Aircraft Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-PYN was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport for Brisbane.  It had arrived into Hamo from the capital on Sunday 15 November.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 18 November, Seair Pacific / Istelcote De Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF was again noted at Rockhampton Airport operating the weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) closed charter flight from the Gold Coast and Brisbane to Rocky then up to Collinsville Aerodrome and Townsville.  As usual, VH-ZKF later returned South over the same route.

While fellow Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQW was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  

After spending the day parked, early on Thursday 19 November, VH-TQW is due to depart Rockhampton Airport for Middlemount Aerodrome.  It should then fly back to Maryborough and Hervey Bay Airports.

Also on Wednesday 18 November, Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH departed Emerald Airport for Toowoomba.  It then returned to Emerald Airport for another overnight stay, flying via Roma, Biloela / Thangool, Emerald and Mackay Airports.  Wow!

Finally, also on Wednesday 18 November, Flylink Aviation College Diamond DA 40 VH-EUU flew up from Archerfield to Gladstone Airport before then continuing up to Hamilton Island Airport.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Ongoing Bushfire on Fraser Island Sees Firefighting Aircraft and Helicopters Deploy from Bundaberg Airport

On Tuesday 17 November, several bushfire fighting aircraft and helicopters were photographed operating out of Bundaberg Airport and flying to nearby Fraser Island where a fire that has been burning for around a month continues on the World Heritage Listed Island.

Queensland's own heavy water bombing aircraft, the Canadian-based Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE completed several flights across to Fraser Island and back to Bundaberg Airport as "Bomber 141".

It was again supported by the Agair Logistics P/L Rockwell Turbo Commander 690B VH-LVG "Birddog 273".

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While other fixed-wing firefighting aircraft operating out of Bundaberg Airport and flying across to Fraser Island and back included Kennedy Aviation / Kennedy Air-Ag Air Tractor AT-802A 'Fire Boss' water bombing aircraft - VH-XAT "Bomber 288" and VH-XAV "Bomber 266".

Central Highlands Aerial Services (CHAS) Air Tractor AT-802A VH-JQW "Bomber 271" also completed several flights across from Bundaberg Airport to Fraser Island.

As did Mungindi Aerial Spraying Air Tractor AT-802A VH-NFD "Bomber 429".

Finally, the visiting pair of McDermott Aviation / Heli-Lift Australia helicopters - Bell 214B-1 Biglifter helicopter VH-SUH "Helitack 417" and Aerospatiale AS.355F1 Squirrel VH-RLR "Helitack 460" - were also involved with firefighting efforts.

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Sincere thanks to Dan B from Dan Beck Photography for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Dan B  ©

Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 Bizjet VH-ILJ Pops into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 17 November, Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-ILJ was noted visiting Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.  It looked to arrive from and later depart back to its Brisbane base.

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Also on Tuesday 17 November, the visiting AirMed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-NEQ departed Mackay Airport and visiting Hamilton Island and Emerald Airports before then continuing to Archerfield.

As reported below, VH-NEQ has been noted and spotted operating between Mackay, Hamilton Island and Bowen Airports since last Wednesday 11 November.  It is pictured above visiting Bowen Airport on Friday 13 November.

Meanwhile, on the lighter side of General Aviation (GA) movements into the region, also on Tuesday 17 November, a trio of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops were noted visiting CQ Airports.

Albury-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-FMM popped into Hamilton Island Airport, arriving from Hicks Island in Far North Queensland and later departing to Lake Macquarie and Albury.

Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH, which arrived into Emerald Airport the previous day, departed to Lotus Creek on the western side of the Marlborough Range before later returning to Emerald Airport. 

And Brisbane-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC landed at Goonoo Feedlot and Emerald Airport after flying up from Archerfield.  It later returned to Archerfield via Goonoo Feedlot once again.

While Brisbane-based Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain VH-XMM also popped into Emerald Airport from Archerfield before later departing to Cloncurry. 

BPW Aviation / Airspeed Aviation of Scone, New South Wales, Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-EQU looked to arrive into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield via Maryborough Airport before later departing to Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 18 November, VH-EQU arrived into Mackay Airport from Townsville, Cairns and Innisfail.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 19 November, VH-EQU continued from Mackay Airport to Gladstone, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airports.

UPDATE!  On Friday 20 November, VH-EQU departed Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport for Archerfield and Tamworth in New South Wales.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-MWZ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast before later departing to Julia Creek and Longreach Airport.

While a little earlier, Altitude Aviation Raytheon B200 King Air VH-EEL 'diverted' into Longreach Airport while flying from Archerfield to Cloncurry.

And finally, Great Western Aviation Beech B200 VH-XGV made its weekly visit to my local Clermont Aerodrome, arriving from and later departing back to Brisbane.

Photos taken by Lloyd Fox and James Kirk  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-003 Completes Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 17 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 was spotted as it completed a missed approach and low overshoot at Rockhampton Airport.

It appears that the Wedgetail flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown at Newcastle direct to Rockhampton. After completing the airwork, A30-003 departed Rockhampton Airport to RAAF Base Amberley where it completed another missed approach.  It then returned back directly to Williamtown.

Of interest, A30-003 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Wedgetail 07".

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Scott H for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH at CQ Airports This Week - Plus More!

On Monday 16 November, Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH landed at Coolibah from Toowoomba and Roma Airports before later heading to Emerald Airport.

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Brisbane-based Hewitt Cattle Australia P/L SOCATA TBM 700 VH-PGA flew up from Archerfield and landed at Agunnie Station near Moura.  It then departed to the far southwest of the state.

Air Central West Beech 58 Baron VH-TNR landed at Winton Airport from Warwick.

Great Western Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-XGV flew up from Brisbane to Winton Airport before it then headed to Longreach Airport and then back to Brisbane.

And Sundown Pastoral Company (of Bonogin in the Gold Coast Hinterland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NSI, which flew up to Hamilton Island Airport last Wednesday, flew past from there back to the Gold Coast.

Photo taken by Dan B  ©

RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-207 Completes a Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport - Plus a Tour of the Keppel Islands

On Sunday 15 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-207 was noted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to fly up from RAAF Base Amberley and was heard to be flying as "Stallion 31".

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The C-17 then flew out from Rocky towards the Capricorn Coast where it completed a low level flight over the Keppel Islands.  It then returned back to overhead Rocky before climbing to flight levels and returning to Amberly.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Embraer EMB-550 Praetor 600 Bizjet N670EE Pops into Bundaberg and Hamilton Island Airports While on Demo Tour - Plus More!

On Sunday 15 November, a nice visitor to Central Queensland Airports with Embraer EMB-550 Praetor 600 bizjet N670EE calling into Bundaberg Airport from Brisbane.  After a brief stop, it then continued up to Hamilton Island Airport.

N670EE at Brisbane Airport recently

During the afternoon, N670EE returned to Brisbane from Hamo, again flying via a quick stop at Bundy.

Of interest, it appears that the new Praetor 600 bizjet is on a demonstration tour of Queensland with arriving into Brisbane from overseas some 10 days earlier.

Learn more here:  https://executive.embraer.com/global/en/praetor-600

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 15 November, Gulf Aircraft Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-PYN was noted also arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.  It flew in from Brisbane and appears to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 18 November, VH-PYN departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Brisbane.

Finally, also on Sunday 15 November, noted making its weekly visit to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour was the often visiting American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK which flew up from Archerfield.

UPDATE!  Late on Thursday 19 November, N257AK returned to Archerfield.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV Bizjet VH-NJR Calls into Mackay and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airports

On Saturday 14 November, Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV bizjet VH-NJR was back in Central Queensland, noted arriving into Mackay Airport from its Brisbane base.

VH-NJR at Hamilton Island Airport recently  (File photo)

VH-NJR then made the short hop up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.  

It later returned to the Brisbane.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Agair (Victoria) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 Bizjet VH-RMB Arrives into Bundaberg Airport

On Friday 13 November, Agair (of Stawell in Victoria) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 bizjet VH-RMB was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport. It looked to touch down from RAAF base Richmond in New South Wales.

Robert Myers / https://commons.wikimedia.org/

The Agair company also operates the Rockwell Turbo Commander 690B VH-LVG "Birddog 273" which is currently based at Bundaberg Airport in support of the Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE "Bomber 141" which as reportedly previously is to be also based at Bundaberg airport for this current bushfire season.

At the time of writing it appears that VH-RMB is staying at Bundaberg Airport for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 14 November, VH-RMB departed Bundaberg Airport for Hay (New South Wales) and Ballarat.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 13 November, Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH also flew into Bundaberg Airport but from Mackay Airport.  It had arrived into the Sugar City earlier in the week.

Finally, also noted visiting Mackay Airport also on Friday 13 November, was Hinterland Aviation Beech 58 Baron VH-WSF which arrived from Mareeba and later departed to Archerfield.