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.

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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.

Photos taken by Lloyd Fox and Liam Sellick  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-004 "Wedgetail 24" Completes Airwork at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 15 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-004 as "Wedgetail 24" was noted completing a missed approach at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  

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It flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown and then returned there via more airwork at Tamworth.

A pair of RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft were also noted flying around the region.  A34-003 as "Wallaby 55" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to near Biggenden then went low level to complete an approach at Bundaberg Airport and then one at Gladstone Airport before it then returned to Amberley. 

While A34-006 as "Wallaby 63" flew East from Amberley to offshore of Brisbane before then flying low-level up the coast to the northern tip of Fraser Island where it then climbed to flight levels and flew up to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before then heading back to Amberley.

And on the civilian scene, McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 421" was noted visiting Mackay Airport from Archerfield.  

Ven Air P/L Beech B300 Super King Air VH-EWQ arrived into Mackay Airport from Cairns.

Meanwhile, on Thursday 14 May, Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK landed at Emerald Airport from Bundaberg Airport. 

And possibly for the first time, Bayswater Road Aerial Surveys Reims F406 VH-LA6 landed at Emerald Airport from Archerfield.

Finally, on Wednesday 13 May, Alenia C-27J Spartan A34-006 as "Wallaby 51" flew up from Amberley to a missed approach each at Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Gladstone Airports before then heading back to Amberley. 

And GBJ Nominees (Navair Flight Operations) Textron (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-IEQ as "Navair 161" flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Bankstown before returning there via Moree.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

XPJet / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Raytheon Hawker 800XP Bizjet VH-OTK Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 12 May, XPJet / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Raytheon Hawker 800XP bizjet VH-OTK was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).

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UPDATE!  On Thursday 14 May, VH-OTK departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Essendon.

Pilatus Australia (South Australia) Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet VH-DMS also flew up to Hamilton Island Airport but from then back to Cessnock. 

And Indara Holdings / Corporate and Luxury Air Charter Textron (Cessna) 525 CitationJet M2 VH-8RT visited Emerald Airport from the Sunshine Coast. 

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 12 May, Cirrus SR22 N312GM arrived visited Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast. 

DeGunst Transport P/L Textron (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-NPZ landed at Rockhampton Airport from Bundaberg Airport and then continued to Nebo Aerodrome on its usual Tuesday Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) run up there and back.

Finally, over the weekend, on Saturday 9 May, Careflight Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-IME as "Careflight 2" departed Longreach Airport for the North.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Stroud Aviation and Transportation / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-SHI "Navair 173" Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 8 May, Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI as "Navair 173" visited Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.

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Hodson Asset Hire P/L Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-VSQ landed at Emerald Airport from Dalby then departed to Cairns.

Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services new Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF was due to arrive into Hamilton Island Airport from Toowoomba (Wellcamp).

UPDATE!  On Monday 11 May, VH-VTF departed Hamo for the Gold Coast.

Southern Air Services Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 bizjet VH-APJ flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour then down to Gold Coast.

I also note that Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY was at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour on Thursday 7 May and departed to Melbourne (Essendon).

While new Wave Air (Whitsunday Tiger Moth Adventures) Textron 208B Grand Caravan EX VH-IHS flew up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport  to Gladstone Airport and the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

The Grand Caravan was only registered in mid-April and was previously on the New Zealand Aircraft register as ZK-SDA.  

And Trans Wonderland Holdings P/L Cessna 208 Caravan I Blackhawk VH-FLL flew up to Mackay Airport from Archerfield.

Photo taken by Trevor Hardsman  ©

Re-registered Mabena P/L (Wagga Air Centre) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-A8K (ex N81DW) at Charleville Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 7 May, re-registered Mabena P/L (Wagga Air Centre) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-A8K as "Wagga Air 669" flew up from Charleville Airport to Davenport Downs and late this afternoon is flying to Mount Isa.

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Of interest, VH-A8K (cn 2090) was formally registered N81DW and was placed on the Australian Aircraft Register in early September 2025.  It is pictured above in October 2025 at Wagga.

There's a 'new' Pilatus PC-12/47G PRO N81DW (cn 3008) in Australia.

While Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up from Archerfield and Dalby to Clermont Aerodrome and Natal Downs.

UPDATE!  On Friday 8 May, VH-JSZ flew down from Natal Downs to Clermont Aerodrome and back to Dalby and Archerfield.  

Air Gold Coast Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-ZDM flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Ballina.  It later departed to the Gold Coast.

And Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-VEY visited Clermont Aerodrome from Brisbane.

Finally, late on Thursday 7 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-004 as "Wedgetail 30" and A30-005 as "Wedgetail 32" were both noted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport

Photo taken by Robert Myers  ©

Eagle One Aviation (Navair Flight Operations) Cessna 525B CitiationJet CJ3+ Bizjet VH-X8X as "Navair 151" at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Wednesday 6 May, Eagle One Aviation (Navair Flight Operations) Cessna 525B CitiationJet CJ3+ bizjet VH-X8X as "Navair 151" flew down from Mackay Airport to Bankstown.

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The sleek Citation bizjet - which has just undergone a major repaint - see photo above - flew up from Bankstown on Tuesday 5 May to Moranbah Airport and then Mackay Airport.

Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ as "Navair 131" flew up from Bankstown and Cessnock to Hamilton Island Airport before returning to Bankstown.

Linfox Express Charter / Air National Australia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6500 bizjet VH-LEF departed Hamilton Island Airport for the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne (Essendon).  It appears to have flown up from Essendon at the start of the week.

While Wrightsair / Wave Air (Whitsunday Tiger Moth Adventures) Cessna 208B Caravan VH-NGS flew down from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour to Roma Airport and then Gunnedah and Wollongong (Shellharbour).

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 6 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-206 as "Stallion 31" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to a planned hold at Rockhampton Airport where it then completed a missed approach before then returning to Amberley.  

Late this afternoon RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft  A30-004 as "Wedgetail 13" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete a missed approach at the Sunshine Coast and then one at Rockhampton Airport before then returning South.

Two RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetails A30-006 & A30-004 Complete Airwork at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 4 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-006 as "Wedgetail 02" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before returning South.

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Later, A30-006 (callsign unknown) returned to the region, flying back up from Williamtown and completing a missed approach at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before returning once again to Williamtown.

Meanwhile, fellow Wedgetail A30-004 as "Wedgetail 03" flew up to complete a missed approach at Hamilton Island Airport before returning South again.

Finally, also on Monday 4 May, Linfox Global Charter / Air National Australia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-LEP flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).

Photo taken by Peter Sajko  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan A34-002 "Ausy 517" Make Emergency Landing at Longreach Airport

On Sunday 3 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-002 flying as "Ausy 517" was flying down from Darwin to RAAF Base Amberley and suffered de-pressurisation and descended to low level then before making an emergency landing at Longreach Airport.

The aircraft had only just returned into Darwin from overseas.

After some time on the ground, A34-002 "Ausy 517" departed Longreach Airport and continued its planned flight to RAAF Base Amberley.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©