Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-XZT (ex 9V-MGN) First Visit to CQ at Mackay Airport

On Monday 10 August, Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-XZT was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland after it was acquired by the airline from Singapore Airlines (SilkAir).

VH-XZT made its first visit to CQ operating into Mackay Airport on the QFA984/5 service from and back to Brisbane.

As mentioned, the B737-800 was previously operated by SilkAir (now merged with Singapore Airlines) as 9V-MGN and was registered to and delivered to Qantas Airways at Alice Springs in February 2026.

In mid-April this year, VH-XZT was ferried across from Alice Springs to Brisbane before it then entered service about a month later. It entered service wearing an all white livery (pictured) and was re-painted in Townsville into the standard 'silver roo' Qantas Airways livery in July. It was also given the name 'Bright'.

It was announced mid-last year that Qantas was to acquire four additional Boeing B737-800 aircraft from to expand capacity as delivery delays impact its new Airbus A321XLR order. The leased jets were previously operated by Singapore Airlines (SilkAir) and would be planned to enter service by the end of 2025.

They are reported to be 9V-MGK (to become VH-XZQ), 9V-MGL (VH-XZR), 9V-MGM (VH-XZS) and 9V-MGN (VH-XZT).  All four have now visited CQ - all at Mackay Airport!

Each will be painted into the Qantas Airways livery and have 'new' interiors fitted prior to them entering service.

File photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Grand Caravan EX N512EX Calls into Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 11 July, Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Grand Caravan EX N512EX was noted landing at Emerald Airport from Archerfield.  It then headed South-East to a nearby property for a demonstration before returning to Emerald Airport and then up to Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 12 July, N512EX looked to return to Emerald Airport where it then stayed until early August!

While Leppington Pastoral Co. (NSW) Beech B300 Super King Air 350i VH-JET departed Longreach Airport for the North-West.

And Queensland Police Service (Airwing) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300 King Air 350i VH-8TT is currently based out of Rockhampton Airport and completed local aerial survey flights.  It appears to have arrived the previous day from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 12 July, VH-8TT completed more aerial survey flights out of and back to Rockhampton Airport.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Australian Country Choice Properties / Aero Corporate Charters P/L (Brisbane) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 Bizjet VH-ACC Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 9 July, Australian Country Choice Properties / Aero Corporate Charters P/L (Brisbane) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 bizjet VH-ACC popped into Hamilton Island Airport from Archerfield.

File photo

Parker Aviation Ventures (Sydney) / Air Link (Dubbo) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom bizjet VH-PNM which had landed at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport at the start of the week, hopped from there to Hamilton Island Airport and then later departed to Canberra.

While Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-VKX flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Newcastle (Williamtown).

And South Australia-based Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-UXF continues to make weekly visits up from Adelaide and Maitland to Collinsville Aerodrome (yesterday) and then Proserpine Airport (today) and back.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 8 July, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) GA8 Airvan VH-MFI and Cessna 172 VH-WMC landed at Longreach Airport from Barkley Wayside Inn and Mount Isa.

Finally, on Thursday 9 July, an ex-Jetstar Asia Airbus A320-200 N300XT departed storage at Alice Springs for Cairns and then the USA.  It was previously registered as 9V-JSY and 9V-TRD with Tigerair/Scoot and was ferried into Alice Springs in October 2025 with plans for it to be placed on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-X3R and enter service with Jetstar Australia - which obviously did not occur.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

A Pair of Australian Army CH-47F Chinook Helicopters A15-307 "Salty 47" & A15-306 "Easy 328" Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 7 July, a pair of Australian Army Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters were spotted at Mackay Airport.  They appear to have flown down from Townsville via completing air work individually in the Whitsundays – at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and Hamilton Island Airport – before continuing down to Mackay Airport.

The two Chinooks from the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment based at Townsville, where identified as A15-307 which flew as "Salty 47" and A15-306 as "Easy 328".

After some time on the ground, both Chinooks departed for Townsville with A15-307 "Salty 47" again completing air work at Hamilton Island Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 7 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-003 as "Dragon 25" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from RAAF Base Amberley and parked on taxiway Juliet. A bit later it departed to the North and completed a missed approach at Townsville before then returning to Amberley.

Finally, on the civilian side of movements, also on Tuesday 7 July, McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 41" flew up from the Sunshine Coast to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying across to Ayers Rock. It later returned to the Sunshine Coast.

Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services new Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF flew up from Archerfield to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying down to Adelaide.

Port Macquarie Helicopters / Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-8DD departed Hamilton Island Airport for the Sunshine Coast. It had arrived on Saturday 4 July from Port Macquarie and Rockhampton Airport.

Mabena P/L (Wagga Air Centre) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-A8K as "Wagga Air 669" appeared to fly South from a property near Dysart.  It had earlier flown up from Archerfield and also from Wagga Wagga the previous day.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 8 July VH-A8L 'WA669' was again noted flying in the region ultimately arriving into Longreach Airport.  Then on Thursday 9 July, it departed Longreach Airport for Isisford, Wrotham Park and then Cairns.

Photos taken by Graham Kevin Jackson  ©

General Aviation Maintenance (GAM Group) (Team Global Express) Raytheon 1900D VH-YJD Calls into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 6 July, and possibly entering service in its own right, was General Aviation Maintenance (GAM Group) (Team Global Express) Raytheon 1900D VH-YJD.

It flew up from Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport and then Mackay Airport and Townsville as 'GA845' / "Gamair 845" and was due to return South from Townsville to Brisbane via only Mackay Airport on Monday evening as 'GA847'.

Of interest, VH-YJD has been noted completing several training and test flights between Brisbane and Maryborough Airport in recent weeks with still the occasional run out to Emerald Airport in place of the  Cessna 208 Caravan VH-UJK.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 6 July, Albury-based Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 bizjet VH-JSO visited the region again this time arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Canberra and Brisbane and then later departing to Bundaberg Airport.

Parker Aviation Ventures (Sydney) / Air Link (Dubbo) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom bizjet VH-PNM departed Archerfield for Canberra before then flying up to Hamilton Island Airport and then across to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

While Arbormeta P/L (Byron Bay) Gippsaero GA8-TC 320 Airvan VH-AUM flew up from Ballina / Byron Bay Gateway to Emerald Airport before continuing to Mareeba and Cairns.

And Parklea (Air Services) (of Victoria) Leonardo AW109SP helicopter VH-87M was spotted at Longreach Airport after earlier arriving from Winton.

Finally, over the weekend, on Saturday 4 July, Port Macquarie Helicopters / Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-8DD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Port McQuarrie and then departed to Hamilton Island Airport.

Photos taken by Lloyd Fox and Liam Sellick  ©

Three RAAF Super King Air Turboprops A32-671, A32-021 & A32-670 All Complete Airwork & Land at CQ Airports

On Tuesday 9 June, three Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air turboprops were noted completing airwork and landing at some Central Queensland Airports.

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A32-671 as "Beaufort 01" flew up from RAAF Base East Sale via Canberra and Tamworth to Townsville.  While A32-021 as "Hudson 28" and A32-670 as "Hudson 27" both also flew up from East Sale but to Dubbo and then Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 10 June, A32-021 as "Hudson 28" and A32-670 as "Hudson 27" departed Rockhampton Airport to Longreach Airport via a touch and go at Emerald Airport.  They both then departed to the Sunshine Coast via a touch and go at Taroom. 

While also on Wednesday 10 June, A32-671 as "Beaufort 01" departed Townsville to Weipa.

NQ Heli-Worx (Townsville) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 Bizjet VH-8GK Pops into Rockhampton and Longreach Airports

On Sunday 7 June, NQ Heli-Worx (Townsville) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-8GK arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.

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It then departed to Longreach Airport before it then continued to Alice Springs.

And Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY as "Machflight 01" visited Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from the Sunshine Coast.  

Meanwhile, Flyon Helicopters in Mackay has taken delivery of AgustaWestland AW109SP GrandNew helicopter VH-NZU with it noted flying around the region this week.  We assume it will replace previous similar older AW109 helicopters on their marine pilot transfer flights they complete from Mackay Airport and then out to ships out to sea.

UPDATE!  It also appears that Flyon has also taken delivery of Agusta AW109SP helicopter VH-NZW which is currently registered to PHI International Australia in Western Australia - what looks like a significant helicopter operator in the West.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

HELIVIDA Indonesia Aerospatiale AS350BA Ecureuil Helicopter PK-HCY Passes Through CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Friday 5 June, HELIVIDA Indonesia Aerospatiale AS350BA Ecureuil helicopter PK-HCY was noted flying North from the Sunshine Coast to Gladstone Airport and then Mackay Airport.

It had flown down to Sunshine Coast in October 2024.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 6 June, AS350 PK-HCY departed Mackay Airport to Townsville and Cooktown. 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 3 June, former Stirling Helicopters Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter N137WZ was spotted passing through Emerald Airport.  It arrived from the Sunshine Coast and then departed to Longreach Airport.

It is also believed that Touchdown Helicopters Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter N4875A passed through Birdsville Airport while ferrying from Shell Harbour in NSW to Indonesia for their firefighting season.

While Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 Citation Jet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up from Dalby to Mackay and Collinsville Airports and then Natal Downs and this afternoon reversed the flight. 

VIP Aviation (A.C.T.) / Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Melbourne) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-EXG visited Mackay Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).  

UPDATE!  On Friday 5 June, VH-EXG flew up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Essendon.  On Monday 8 June, VH-EXG departed Prosie and flew back to Essendon.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 01" flew up from the Sunshine Coast to complete airwork at Maryborough Airport.  It then returned to the Sunshine Coast. 

At the same time, fellow McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 06" flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast.  It then returned south to Brisbane but as "Machflight 01". 

UPDATE!  On Saturday 6 June, Citation VH-PIY as "Machflight 41" visited Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.  Then in the afternoon, Citation VH-PIY now as "Machflight 01" flew up to Mackay Airport from Brisbane then flew down to the Sunshine Coast.

And now former Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 now registered N770XT (ex 9V-JSX/VH-X3P) departed Alice Springs to Cairns.  

UPDATE!  On Friday 5 June, A320 N770XT departed Cairns to Kiribati and Honolulu.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Jonathan Williams  ©

Nexus Airlines (Aviair) Dash-8-Q400 VH-8XC Starts FIFO Charter Flights to Moranbah Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 2 June, Western Australia based Nexus Airlines (Aviair) Dash-8-Q400 VH-8XC started a new Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights run between Brisbane and Moranbah Airport - as pictured below.

It flew up and back as CT865/6 and is due to return to Moranbah Airport again early on Wednesday 3 June as CT861/2 - as pictured below.

Of interest, VH-8XC flew across from Perth to Brisbane via Ayers Rock over the weekend as CT602 - as pictured below.

Nexus Airlines is an Australian regional airline based in Kununurra, Western Australia. A subsidiary of the HMC Group, it commenced operations in July 2023 and operates in Western Australia and formerly the Northern Territory.  This is its first foray outside of WA.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 2 June, another (not quite) first-time visitor to the region was Crockett Aviation Group / Navair Flight Operations 'new' Beech B200 King Air VH-8EJ as "Navair 179" which looked to fly up to Moranbah Airport from Archerfield and Brisbane before later flying down to the Sunshine Coast and back to Archerfield.  VH-8EJ was registered in March and looked to complete a couple of test flights including one to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport late last month. 

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-002 as "Envoy 05" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from RAAF Base Amberley on a reported training flight and a bit later, it departed to Canberra.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Dylan Hardie  ©

Melbourne-based Raytheon Hawker 800XP Bizjet VH-OFJ Calls into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 1 June, ADD Aviation Services / CML No.1 P/L Raytheon Hawker 800XP bizjet VH-OFJ visited Bundaberg Airport from Brisbane.

https://www.facebook.com/Bundaberg.Aviation.Fuel

Parklea (Air Services) (of Victoria) Leonardo AW109SP helicopter VH-87M landed at Gladstone Airport from the Sunshine Coast before it then departed to Hamilton Island Airport.

While new and just registered to Sutcliffe P/L Mackay, Tecnam P-2012 VH-HID, which landed in country last night from Norfolk Island into Brisbane and then the Gold Coast, departed to Goldie for Mackay Airport.

Finally, on Sunday 31 May, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-Q200 VH-TQG arrived into Roma Airport from Cairns before then departing to Sydney all as SKP552.