Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Bizjet VH-VGX at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 30 May, Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet VH-VGX flew down from Townsville to Mackay Airport.  It had flown up from Melbourne (Essendon) the previous day.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 31 May, VH-VGX departed Mackay Airport and returned to Essendon.

Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).

Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FMZ visited Rockhampton Airport from Cairns via Townsville.

And Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ as "Navair 131" flew up to Mackay Airport from Bankstown.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

THREE Australian Army Airbus Helicopters H135 'Juno' Training Helicopters Arrive into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

Late on Thursday 28 May, three Australian Army Airbus Helicopters H135 'Juno' training helicopters were noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport as "Jackal" after flying up from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.  They have been identified as N52-101, N52-102 and N52-103 and were parked up for the night.

Then on Friday 29 May, the three H135 helicopters again as "Jackal" flew out of Rockhampton Airport to The Glen Airfield within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and back to Rocky.  

They later all returned down to Oakey - N52-101 was noted on radar flying as "Warhorse 27".

Meanwhile, also on Friday 29 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 as "Envoy 89" flew up from Canberra to land at Coffs Harbour and Bundaberg Airport before it then returned to Canberra via a missed approach at Tamworth. 

RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air A32-675 as "Hudson 25", which landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from RAAF Base East Sale late yesterday, departed back to East Sale.

Finally, also on Friday 29 May, Australian Country Choice Properties / Aero Corporate Charters P/L (Brisbane) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 bizjet VH-ACC departed Hamilton Island Airport for Archerfield.  It appears to have arrived into Hamo from Archerfield via Brisbane at the start of the week.

GBJ Nominees (Navair Flight Operations) Textron (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-IEQ as "Navair 161" looked to arrive into Emerald Airport from Bankstown.  It then departed to Cairns.

And Cairns-based Air Tour Australia Beech B200 King Air VH-LOA visited Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns.

Photos taken by Darren Massie  ©

General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) / Team Global Express Raytheon 1900D Freighter VH-YJD Spotted at Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 28 May, General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) / Team Global Express Raytheon 1900D Freighter VH-YJD was spotted completing testing at Emerald Airport.

It had earlier flown in from Brisbane via Biloela / Thangool Airport and then later departed back to Brisbane.

It also seems that VH-YJD completed a test flight to Maryborough Airport from and back to Brisbane on Wednesday 27 May.

This is the first time we have seen the 'new' but second-hand Beech 1900D Freight aircraft that GAM are going to take delivery primarily for Queensland operations for Team Global Express.  VH-YJD (UE-254) was previously N254GL of Alpine Air Express in the USA and was flown over to Melbourne (Essendon) where it was placed on the Australian Aircraft Register late last month.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 28 May, Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) Central Operations Pilatus PC-24 Jet VH-FMP as "Flydoc 802" visited Rockhampton Airport from Alice Springs.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service / Coulson Aviation (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation VH-VJO as "Firescan 201" landed at Gladstone Airport from Brisbane and then departed to complete airwork to the North-East of Gladstone before then heading South to the Sunshine Coast.  It was also noted at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport the previous day.

And McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 06" flew into Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.  It then returned directly to the Sunny Coast.

Finally, also on Thursday 28 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-213 as "Stallion 64" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to complete a missed approach at Hamilton Island Airport and then Mackay Airport before it then flew back to Amberley. 

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

ConocoPhillips Company Gulfstream G-VII (G600) Bizjet N795CP Spotted at Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 27 May, ConocoPhillips Company Gulfstream G-VII (G600) bizjet N795CP was spotted at Gladstone Airport.  It appears to have visited from Brisbane.

While Cirrus SR22T N312GM flew into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from the Gold Coast. It later flew across to Maryborough Airport and then back to the Goldie.

Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-Q200 VH-TQG flew across from Ballera to Longreach Airport and then to Cairns as SKP551.

Finally, this week, Alliance Airlines Embraer E-190 VH-A2N was spotted still parked at Rockhampton Airport after arriving into the country some time ago.

As shown, it still remains without engines...

Photos taken by 'AC' and John Lee  ©

A Pair of RAAF Super King Air Turboprops A32-021 & A32-008 Both Complete Airwork & Land at CQ Airports

On Wednesday 27 May, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air turboprops were noted completing airwork and landing at some Central Queensland Airports.

File photo

A32-021 as "Hudson 28", which flew out from RAAF Base East Sale to Broken Hill, Charleville and Mount Isa Airports yesterday, departed Mount Isa to complete a touch and go at Longreach Airport and then to land at Rockhampton Airport.  A bit later, it departed to Moree, Dubbo and back to East Sale. 

While A32-008 as "Hudson 07", yesterday flew out from East Sale to Mildura and Mount Isa and this morning departed Mount Isa to complete a touch and go at Emerald Airport and then to also land at Rockhampton Airport. A bit later, it departed to Walgett, Dubbo and back to East Sale.

Photo taken by Zac Fitzgerald  ©️

New South Wales Rural Fire Service / Coulson Aviation (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation VH-VJO as "Firescan 201" at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 26 May, New South Wales Rural Fire Service / Coulson Aviation (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation VH-VJO as "Firescan 201" was noted flying up from the Sunshine Coast to complete airwork and then land at Gladstone Airport.  It then continued to Bundaberg Airport and the later back down South.

File photo

While McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 41" flew up from the Sunshine Coast to Mackay Airport and then down to Brisbane.

And an unknown Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft flying as "Mitchell 06" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete a missed approach each at the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton Airport before then completing another at Tamworth and then flying back to Williamtown.

Plus late on Monday 25 May, RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34 010 as "Wallaby 03" completed airwork around Taroom and other parts while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VH First Visit into CQ at Mackay Airport

On Monday 25 May, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VH was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport. It arrived as VOZ621 from to Brisbane. At the time of writing, it is due to return to Brisbane early on Tuesday 26 May as VOZ600.

File photo

VH-8VH was delivered into Brisbane from the USA in on Saturday 9 May this year and entered service five days later. 

The aircraft was named 'Port Noarlunga' and is the 16th B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Of interest, on Friday 22 May, Virgin Australia B737-8MAX VH-8VI arrived into Brisbane Airport in a striking retro livery celebrating the airlines 150th B737 since it started as Virgin Blue in August 2000.  It entered service today on Monday 25 May and we await its first visit into CQ!

Nice!

Photos taken by Tony Haynes and Lloyd Fox  ©

Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY Calls into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 25 May, Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.  At the time of writing, it is due to depart to Biloela / Thangool Airport on Tuesday 26 May before then returning to Archerfield.

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While Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 Citation Jet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew out from Archerfield to Dalby, Clermont Aerodrome and Natal Downs and this afternoon reversed the flight.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A54-003 as "Envoy75" flew up from Canberra to complete airwork at Longreach Airport before then returning to nation's capital via more airwork at Broken Hill.

Photo taken by Graham Aspinall  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YFY Makes First Visit to CQ in Toy Story 5 Movie Livery at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 23 May, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YFY made its first visit into Central Queensland after recently returning from planning maintenance in Singapore and having a special livery livery applied to promote the upcoming Toy Story 5 movie.

It is pictured departing Brisbane and then touched down at Mackay Airport on the scheduled VOZ605/608 service from and then back to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 23 May, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-QQW visited Longreach Airport from Brisbane as UTY6420/1 for the Outback Opera.

And Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ as "Navair 131" arrived into Bundaberg Airport from Bansktown.  It is due to return to Bankstown on Sunday 24 May.

Photos taken by Gareth Ruhe and Liam Sellick  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) B737 / E-7A Wedgetail A30-004 "Wedgetail 36" Completes Airwork at Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 22 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-004 as "Wedgetail 36" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to complete a few missed approaches at Gladstone Airport before it then returned to Williamtown. 

File photo

About the same time, fellow E-7A Wedgetail A30-006 as "Wedgetail 34" also flew up from Williamtown to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport but due to traffic (?) was turned away while still at flight levels.  It continued on and u-turned over Rockhampton and flew down to RAAF Base Amberley for airwork before it then returned to Williamtown. 

While RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34 010 as "Wallaby 72" was following the Wedgetail into Rockhampton but was also turned away and they decided to do a steep descent into Gladstone Airport where it completed four missed approaches there and then flew low level to Bundaberg Airport for another approach before it then returned to Amberley. 

Meanwhile, also on Friday 22 May, North Queensland Warbirds 1969-built Beech H18 VH-MBU hopped from Winton to Longreach Airport.  It had arrived there from Cairns the previous day.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 24 May, VH-MBU departed Longreach Airport for Cairns.

And an unmanned helicopter, G-138, was noted operating with a NOTAM near Thangool.