Recently Acquired Alliance Airlines (Virgin Australia) Fokker F-100 VH-FNC Makes First Visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 29 October, recently acquired Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-FNC made its first visit into Central Queensland, arriving into Mackay Airport from Brisbane operating on behalf of Virgin Australia Airlines as VOZ609.  It later departed back to the capital as VOZ610.  VH-FNC had earlier completed a flight to Canberra and back also on behalf of Virgin.

The Fokker which had been operating over in Perth, Western Australia for some time, flew across to Brisbane on delivery to Alliance Airlines on Thursday 24 October as UTY9822.

The 33-year-old Fokker F-100 (c/n 11334) has had a fascinating history, arriving into Australia in 2008 after being sold to Virgin Australia which then operated the aircraft for Skywest Airlines in Perth, Western Australia.  It had previously been operated by US Airways as N882US and Germania (Air Berlin) as D-AGPO.

Following the full acquisition of Skywest Airlines by Virgin in 2012/3, VH-FNC was then re-painted into Virgin livery and was operated by the newly named Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA).  VH-FNC was finally withdrawn from use in April 2024 and temporarily stored at Perth.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 29 October, Air Gold Coast Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-ZDM flew up from the Gold Coast and Ballina to Hamilton Island Airport.  It later flew back down to the Gold Coast.

And Brisbane-based Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-DEP visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield and Emerald Airports.

Photos taken by 'AC' and David Rowcroft  ©

Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF Calls into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 28 October, Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.  It later departed to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and then back to Archerfield.

File photo

While Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up from Archerfield and Dalby to Natal Downs before then flying down to my local Clermont Aerodrome and then back to Archerfield.

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" visited Gladstone Airport from Brisbane.

And the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ flew up from Brisbane back to Mackay Airport.  It looks to have flown down last Thursday 24 October.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 28 October, Fly Weel Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-KWZ landed at Emerald Airport from the Gold Coast and then departed to Mackay Airport.  It then returned to the Gold Coast. 

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Textron Aviation B300C Super King Air 350 VH-8PD visited Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville.

Aero Professional Services SOCATA TBM700 VH-VSV visited Bundaberg Airport from its Denison Downs (Emerald) base.

UPDATE!  VH-VSV completed two similar flights from Denison Downs to Bundy and back on both Saturday 2 November and Sunday 3 November.

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew up from Brisbane to the Oaky Creek Mine Site and then my local Clermont Aerodrome before then heading back to Brisbane. 

And Southern Air Beech 1900C VH-VSO looked to complete the weekly visit to Moranbah Airport, arriving from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and Toowoomba-Wellcamp and then departing back to Wellcamp.

Photo taken by Ryan Hothersall  ©

American Registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Bizjet N5883 Calls into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Sunday 27 October, possibly Australian based but American registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet N5883 was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Sydney.

It had appeared to arrive into Australia from overseas late on Friday night.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 30 October, N5883 departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Sydney.

Reports suggest that this colourful bizjet could in fact be Sydney-based and research reveals that until 2022, it was on the Australian Aircraft register as VH-SPJ.

While Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Cessna 525A CitationJet2 Bizjet VH-EJT also flew into Hamilton Island Airport but from Bankstown.

Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ as "Navair 188" flew down from Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport to the Gold Coast and then Bankstown. It had originally arrived into Prosie from those places on Friday 25 October before departing to Cairns and Brisbane and then returning to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport on Saturday.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" flew down from Townsville to Rockhampton Airport and then Brisbane.  

Plus fellow And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" visited Mackay Airport from Brisbane.  It also visited Mackay Airport and Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 26 October. 

Finally, also on Sunday 27 October, re-registered LifeFlight Australia (Cronin Aviation Services) Bell 412EP helicopter VH-EPH was spotted passing through Longreach Airport.  It looked to arrive from Mount Isa and departed to Emerald Airport and the Bundaberg Airport.

VH-EPH seems to be returning from a 'deployment' over the in Western Australia.

UPDATE!  On Monday 28 October, VH-EPH departed Bundaberg Airport for Archerfield.

Of interest, fellow LifeFlight Rescue Bell 412EP VH-XCY flew across to Kununurra in Western Australia from the Sunshine Coast via Bundaberg, Emerald, Longreach and Mount Isa Airports at the end of last week.

Sincere thanks to Sydney-based specialist aviation photographer Grahame Hutchison for allowing us to share these great photos of a great looking bizjet!

Do check out more of Grahame's fantastic images on his well-known Sydney Airport based website http://www.16right.com/

Photos taken by Grahame Hutchison and 'AC'  ©

Cloncurry Bushfire Sees a Number of Firefighting Aircraft Pass Through Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 26 October, a couple of aerial firefighting aircraft were noted and spotted passing through the region, including at Longreach Airport, while heading up towards Cloncurry where a large bushfire continues to burn outside of the town.

Kennedy Aviation (Kennedy Air Services) North American Rockwell 500S VH-XAS "Birddog 444"  arrived into Longreach Airport from Toowoomba and then departed to Cloncurry.

Meandarra Aerial Spraying Air Tractor AT-802A VH-SDJ "Bomber 424" and VH-NFY "Bomber 426" were spotted taking on fuel at Longreach Airport before departing towards Cloncurry.

It is also believed that Kennedy Aviation / Kennedy Air-Ag Air Tractor AT-802A 'Fire Boss' water bombing aircraft VH-XAJ "Bomber 455" also passed through Longreach Airport heading up to Cloncurry.

And the Bundaberg Airport based Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE "Bomber 141" and Agair Logistics P/L Gulfstream Aerospace (AeroCommander) 695-A JetProp 1000 VH-LMC "Birddog 125" both returned to Bundy from a night up at Townsville, flying back via a water-drop at Cloncurry.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 26 October, Interair (based at Essendon) Beech B200 King Air VH-ITH passed through Longreach Airport arriving from Melbourne (Essendon) and Bourke and departing to Atherton.

MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast. 

UPDATE!  On Monday 28 October, VH-MMC returned to the Sunny Coast from Hamo.

And Inverted Downunder / Matt Hall Racing MX Aircraft MXS VH-CQE was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Melbourne (Moorabbin), Dubbo and Archerfield.

UPDATE!  On Monday 28 October, Matt Hall on board VH-CQE departed Rockhampton Airport for Hamilton Island Airport where he completed a performance in the early afternoon.  He then returned to Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 29 October, VH-CQE departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to its Lake Macquarie base.

Photo taken by Drew Mackay  ©

Whitsunday Air Services Viking Air Limited (De Havilland) DHC-2 MK I Beaver VH-OHU Crashes in Waters Adjacent to Whitehaven Beach

On Saturday 26 October, the sad sight of Whitsunday Air Services Viking Air Limited (De Havilland) DHC-2 MK I Beaver VH-OHU has crashed into the water adjacent to Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays.

contributed...

Reports say the Seaplane crashed upon landing in the water adjacent to Whitehaven Beach at around 8.30am Saturday morning. 

According to eyewitnesses the plane’s pilot was attempting a water landing near the beach when it "nose dived into the water and flipped upside down". 

The crash will be subjected to a full investigation.

It is believed all five people (1 pilot and 4 passengers) aboard the plane which, escaped serious injury. 

A barge was dispatched from Hamilton Island to recover the aircraft.

Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY as "Machflight 38" Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 16 October, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY as "Machflight 38" was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

File photo

While Air Link (Dubbo) Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS landed at Bundaberg Airport from Archerfield.  It then continued up to Bowen Aerodrome.

UPDATE!  On Friday 18 October, VH-ISS finally departed Bowen Aerodrome and returned to Bundaberg Airport and then Archerfield.

And as this post was being written, Air Link (Dubbo) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SEQ was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Mount Isa.  It then departed to Archerfield.

Photo taken by Alan Macdonald  ©

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' Helicopter N48-003 (903) Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 16 October, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' naval combat helicopter N48-003 (Code 903) was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It was heard to be flying as "Tiger 03".

It looked to fly in from off the coast North-East of Bundaberg, firstly heading South-West to near Bundaberg before it then turned North and tracked up the coast low level to land at Rockhampton Airport.

A short time later, N48-003 departed the Rockhampton area for the North-East.

It is believed that N48-003 - seemingly of the RAN's 816 Squadron - is off a Royal Australian Navy ship which appears to be in waters off the Central Queensland coast.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 16 October, fellow RAN Seahawk helicopters N48-002 as "Poseidon 02" and possibly N48-001 "Poseidon 01" were heard and seen on radar in the area.

Meanwhile, during the evening and into the night, also on Wednesday 16 October, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft were noted and spotted completing airwork and landing at a couple of Central Queensland Airports. 

A34-010 as "Wallaby 56" looked to complete airwork around Taroom Aerodrome while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

While A34-003 as "Wallaby 57" and A34-009 as "Wallaby 70" both flew up from Amberley and completed airwork around the Wide Bay area.

As shown, A34-003 "Wallaby 57" completed airwork before then landing at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It then returned to Amberley.  

While A34-009 "Wallaby 70" completed airwork at Hervey Bay and Bundaberg Airports before it too returned to Amberley. 

Photos taken by Steve Vit and James Hackett  ©

New Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB505 Phenom 300 Bizjet VH-NJR Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 15 October, there were a couple of nice corporate bizjets to visit Rockhampton Airport that were believed to be carrying politicians and support staff into the region to join the hustings for the upcoming State Government Election.  

The most notable was the nice still reasonably new Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR which visited Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane.

File photo

Plus McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY "Machflight 421" visited Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

While Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield. 

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" visited Emerald Airport from Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 15 October, Kelsall P/L (Aeronautics and Technology Holdings) Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-PID arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 17 October, VH-PID departed Rockhampton Airport back to Toowoomba.

Townsville Airlines Beech 1900D VH-RUE arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville and then departed to Brisbane. 

And Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX VH-MIF flew up to Middlemount Aerodrome from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and Maryborough Airport before then flying back down to Hervey Bay Airport.

Exercise Wallaby 2024 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLB and V8-DLD Back at Rockhampton Airport Again!

On Tuesday 15 October, both Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLB and V8-DLD were back at Rockhampton Airport as the third 'wave' of heavy jet passenger charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2024 (XWB24) pretty much wrapped up.

B787 V8-DLB as RBA4348 arrived from Singapore and later departed back to there as RBA4349.

And then late in the afternoon, B787 V8-DLD as Brunei RBA4353 arrived from Singapore and later departed back to there as RBA4354.

There is one more charter flight on Wednesday 16 October and then one additional charter flight next Monday 21 October which will wrap up this third 'wave' of flights.  The final 'wave' of heavy jet passenger charter flights kicks off in early November at the conclusion of Exercise Wallaby 2024.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

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

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-004 Calls into Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 15 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-004 was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

It was heard to be flying as "Dragon 53" and flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to Townsville before then flying down to Rockhampton Airport.  The KC-30 parked on Bay 6 for a crew change before departing back to Amberley.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©️