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.

Photos taken by Lloyd Fox and Liam Sellick  ©

Transwisata Prima Aviation (Indonesia) Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV) Bizjet PK-TWY at Emerald Airport - Plus More!

A real beaut bizjet that was almost missed but was spotted late on Wednesday 29 April was Transwisata Prima Aviation Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV) bizjet PK-TWY.  It was spotted below departing to Brisbane.

It appears that PK-TWY brought high-ranking mining officials to town with the sleek Gulfstream looking to have arrived the previous day from Jakarta (Halim) via Darwin.

Meanwhile, a blast from the past with former Bundaberg-based - now Indi Flight of West Bathurst (NSW) - Cessna 414A VH-CBT noted departing Longreach Airport for Kempsey.  It looked to have flown down from Darwin and Mount Isa into Longreach Airport late on Tuesday 28 April.

Finally, late on Wednesday 29 April, there were more Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) training flights into Rockhampton and Bundaberg Airport - as there has been each night this week so far!

RAAF Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-002 as "Dragon 65" called into Rockhampton Airport while on a flight out of RAAF Base Amberley and then to Brisbane Airport.

And a pair of RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-001 as "Kaos 33" and A34-010 as "Wallaby 41" were noted completing airwork at Bundaberg Airport while on flights out of and back to Amberley.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-CMK Pops into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 28 April, Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK flew up from Orange to the Sunshine Coast before it then continued to Bundaberg Airport and Emerald Airport.

File photo

UPDATE!  On Thursday 30 April, VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport and returned to Bundaberg Airport and then the Sunshine Coast and Orange.

While in the evening, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-002 as "Dragon 63" was noted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport while on a flight out of RAAF Base Amberley and then to Brisbane Airport.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-009 as "Kaos 34" was noted completing airwork at Bundaberg Airport while also on an evening flight out of and back to Amberley.

Photo taken by Ross Huntington  ©

National Jet Express Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-8QB Pops into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 27 April, National Jet Express Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-8QB was spotted visiting Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

Photo contributed...

It seemed to be a closed charter flight with it arriving from and then departing back to Brisbane as WO454/3.

Also at Hervey Bay Airport, American Registered but Australian based Pilatus PC-12/47E N81DW was noted visiting.  It arrived from the Sunshine Coast and departed to Roma Airport.

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY arrived into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour from Mackay Airport before departing to Ararat and Melbourne (Essendon).

VH-WMY had arrived into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour last Thursday 23 April after flying up from Melbourne (Moorabbin), Ararat, Tamworth and the Gold Coast before it then hopped down to Mackay Airport for parking.

VH-WMY also appeared to visit Roma and Chinchilla Airports early last week as well.

Finally, late on Monday 27 April, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-005 as "Dragon 60" was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It arrived from RAAF Base Amberley and then flew to Brisbane Airport.

And a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-005 as "Kaos 04" and A34-001 as "Wallaby 06" were both noted completing airwork at Bundaberg Airport while on flights out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

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

On Monday 27 April, Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-XZR was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland after it was acquired by the airline from Singapore Airlines (SilkAir).

VH-XZR 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-MGL and was  registered to and delivered to Qantas Airways at Alice Springs in October 2025.  

In early March this year, VH-XZR was ferried across from Alice Springs to Brisbane before it then entered service at the start of April.  As shown, it currently wears an all white livery.

UPDATE!  In late May, VH-XZR was re-painted in Townsville into the standard 'silver roo' Qantas Airways livery.  It was also given the name 'Tathra'.  VH-XZR looked to make its first visit into CQ at Mackay Airport once again as QFA984/5 wearing this new livery on Monday 25 May.

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).

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  ©

Jetstar Airways Airbus Airbus A321-251NX (A321neo) VH-OFU First Visit into Central Queensland at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport

On Sunday 26 April, Jetstar Airways Airbus A321-251NX (A321neo) VH-OFU made its first visit into Central Queensland at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport. It operated as JST832/3 from and back to Melbourne (Tullamarine).

VH-OFU was delivered into Melbourne (Tullamarine) from Hamburg (Germany) in early March 2023 and entered service only a few days after arriving in Australia.

Nice!

File photo taken by Ryan Hothersall  ©

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

On Saturday 25 April, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VB was finally noted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport.  It arrived as VOZ613 from to Brisbane.  At the time of writing, it is due to return to Brisbane early on Sunday 26 April as VOZ600.

VH-8VB was delivered into Brisbane from the USA in mid-September last year and entered service soon after arriving.  It seems to have spent the majority of its time operating out of Perth in Western Australia.

The aircraft was named 'Tamar River' and is the 13th B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Nice!

File photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

A Pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules Aircraft - A97-449 & A97-450 - Complete Airwork at CQ Airports

On Friday 24 April, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft were noted completing airwork at some Central Queensland Airports.

File photo

They were identified as A97-449 as "Trojan 35" and A97-450 as "Trojan 36" and both appeared to fly down from Townsville to each complete a missed approach each at both Hamilton Island and Emerald Airports before they then flew down to RAAF Base Amberley.

Nice!

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-002 "Envoy 66" Calls into Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 23 April, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-002 as Envoy 66 flew into Gladstone Airport from Townsville.  It then departed to RAAF Base Amberley.

File photo

It appeared to have flown up to Townsville from Canberra via Amberley the previous day.

Fellow RAAF Beech Super King Air A32-021 as "Hudson 07" flew up from RAAF Base East Sale and Orange to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before it then flew down to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

UPDATE!  On Friday 24 April, A32-021 "Hudson 07" departed Hervey Bay Airport and flew to RAAF Base Amberley and then back to East Sale.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 23 April, Microflite (Moorabbin) Airbus Helicopters MBB-BK117 D-3 helicopter VH-8JJ landed at Longreach Airport from Melbourne (Moorabbin), Griffith and Charleville Airports.

UPDATE!  On Friday 24 April, the BK117 VH-8JJ departed Longreach Airport for Charters Towers Aerodrome and then Cairns.

Vee H Aviation (Link Airways) Beech B200GT Super King Air 250 VH-VEW visited Clermont Aerodrome once again on the triangle run between Brisbane and the Oaky Creek Mine Site.  It also visited as per usual on Monday 20 April.

Also on Monday 20 April, NQ Goldfields Beech 58 Baron VH-SNZ visited Clermont Aerodrome from Charters Towers Aerodrome again.

Then on Tuesday 21 April, Consolidated Pastoral Company P/L Cessna 421C Golden Eagle VH-UTC was noted visiting Middlemount Aerodrome and Longreach Airport before continuing up to Mount Isa and Darwin.

Angel Flight Cessna 402C VH-AF3 flew into Longreach Airport from Jundah before continuing to Townsville.  It had flown down also via Longreach Airport the previous day.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-209 as "Stallion 57" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before it then back to Amberley.

Photo taken by Michael Mc  ©

Photos of Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VXT 'QFA705' Emergency Landing at Rockhampton Airport - Fellow B737-800 VH-VZW Sent as Rescue Plane

Late on Saturday 18 April, Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VXT as QFA705' was on its way from Cairns to Melbourne (Tullamarine) where near Alpha it declared an emergency and diverted to Rockhampton Airport.

Later, fellow Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VZW flew up to Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane as QFA6116 before it then departed back to Brisbane but as QFA1005.

At the time of writing, VH-VXT remains parked at Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  Late morning on Sunday 19 April, VH-VXT as QFA6117 departed Rockhampton Airport to Brisbane.

Photos taken by John Lee  ©