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

On Tuesday 24 February, it is believed that Jetstar Airways Airbus A321-251NX (A321neo) VH-OYW made its first visit into Central Queensland at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport. 

It operated as JST840/1 from and back to Sydney.

VH-OYW was delivered into Melbourne (Tullamarine) from Hamburg in January 2025 and entered service later in that month.

File photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Pacific Helicopters (PNG) Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel Helicopter P2-PHQ Passes Through CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Wednesday 18 February, Pacific Helicopters (Papua New Guinea) Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel helicopter P2-PHQ was noted passing trough a couple of Central Queensland Airports while looking to ferry down to the Sunshine Coast.

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After spending the last two days flying down from Port Moresby to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour, on Wednesday P2-PHQ flew down from there to Rockhampton Airport and then to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 18 February,  McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 421" visited Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

Goldie Motorsport SOCATA TBM-850 VH-TBM arrived into Longreach Airport from the Gold Coast before then departing to Alice Springs and Jandakot.

And ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-AYT as 'ZD220' visited Clermont Aerodrome from Townsville.

Finally, a couple more visitors to my local Clermont Aerodrome but on Tuesday 17 February, included 

Atherton Creek Air Charters (Mareeba) Piper PA-24-260 Commanche VH-SMJ which visited from Mareeba. 

And the regular visitor in the form of Archer Aviation Service Cirrus SR22 VH-JCK visited once again from Archerfield.

And Avcair LearJet 60 bizjet VH-AVL flew up from Brisbane to Mackay Airport then down to Rockhampton Airport and back to Brisbane.

Of interest, on Wednesday 18 February, VH-AVL again flew up to Mackay Airport from Brisbane before then flying down to Rockhampton Airport.  It then flew up to Cairns before returning to Brisbane.

A Pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Pilatus PC-21 Forward Air Control Aircraft A54-047 & A54-046 Complete Airwork at Bundaberg & Hervey Bay Airports

On Tuesday 17 February, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Pilatus PC-21 Forward Air Control Aircraft from No. 4 Squadron were noted was noted completing airwork at a couple of Central Queensland Airports while on a flight out of and back to the Sunshine Coast. They had deployed to there the previous day from their 'home' at RAAF Base Williamtown.

The 2 PC-21s soon after arriving into the Sunshine Coast yesterday.

The two PC-21s were identified as A54-047 which was flying as "Raven 18" and A54-046 which was flying as "Raven 15".

They flew up from the Sunshine Coast to complete airwork including missed approaches at Bundaberg Airport before then completing more airwork and missed approaches at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before they both then returned back to the Sunshine Coast.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 19 February, the PC-21s were back in the region with A54-047 as "Raven 18" and A54-046 as "Raven 15" flying up from the Sunshine Coast to complete a missed approach at Gladstone Airport before then flying at low level back down the coast to the Sunshine Coast. 

Nice!

Photo taken by Alan Macdonald  ©

Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency of Honiara, Solomon Islands, Beech B200 King Air N280RA Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 16 February, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency of Honiara, Solomon Islands, Beech B200 King Air N280RA arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the Gold Coast.  It then departed to Cairns.

File photo

It seems N280RA had earlier departed from Bankstown.

While S. Kidman & Co. Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-SKW landed at Longreach Airport from Archerfield and then departed to Tenant Creek.

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

And Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield and Dalby.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 16 February, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YFF as VOZ605 from Brisbane to Mackay Airport made a missed approach at Mackay Airport before then flying down and landing at Rockhampton Airport.  It has been reported that the diversion was due to a technical problem and at the time of writing, VH-YFF remains parked at Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 17 February, VH-YFF departed Rockhampton Airport for Brisbane as VOZ9904.

And Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VZP as QFA578 from Sydney to Hamilton Island Airport and diverted into Rockhampton Airport but due to adverse weather up in the Whitsundays.  After taking on fuel, VH-VZP departed Rockhampton Airport and successfully landed at Hamilton Island Airport.

Finally, over the weekend, it was noted that the aircraft used for the skydiving out of Lakeside Airpark was swapped over with Sydney Skydivers Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL VH-XLC noted operating and then departing to Caloundra while the usual Cessna 208B Supervan 900 Skydiving Aircraft VH-XLF returned to Lakeside Airpark late in the day from Bankstown via Caloundra.

And up at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour, Skydive the Beach Group Cessna 208 Caravan VH-DNK flew down from Cairns and Tully to temporarily replace fellow Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LVN which flew up to Mareeba.

UPDATE!  By the end of the next week, VH-LVN was back at Shute Harbour and VH-DNK was back at Cairns!

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Jetstar Airways Airbus Airbus A321-251NX(LR) (A321neo) VH-OIR First Visit into Central Queensland at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 13 February, Jetstar Airways Airbus A321-251NX(LR) (A321neo) VH-OIR made its first visit into Central Queensland at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport. It operated as JST832/3 from and back to Melbourne (Tullamarine).

VH-OIR was delivered into Melbourne (Tullamarine) from Hamburg, Germany in late September 2025 and entered service at the end of that month.

Of interest, making it a double, also on Friday 13 February, fellow Jetstar A321 VH-VWN was back at Proserpine Airport operating the JST840/1 service from and back to Sydney.

Would have been a great sight to see two A321s on the deck at the same time!

File photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Falcon Air (NSW) Cirrus Design Corp. SF50 Vision Jet VH-LCR Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 13 February, Falcon Air (NSW) Cirrus Design Corp. SF50 Vision Jet VH-LCR flew up from Bankstown and Moree to Hamilton Island Airport.

File photo

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 17 February, VH-LCR finally departed Hamilton Island Airport for Archerfield.  It then flew to Kingaroy Aerodrome and back to Archerfield.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 18 February, VH-LCR returned to Hamilton Island Airport from Archerfield.  It then departed to Moree and back to Bankstown.

Victoria Based USA Registered Embraer 505 Phenom 300E bizjet N227SJ flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 15 February, N227SJ departed Hamilton Island Airport for Warrnambool.

New Cirrus SR22 N12AU flew up from the Gold Coast to Rockhampton Airport before it then departed to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour where it will be reportedly on display for the weekend.

UPDATE!  On Monday 16 February, N12AU departed Shute Harbour for Townsville before then flying South to Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 17 February, N12AU departed Rockhampton Airport for Bundaberg Airport and then Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before continuing to the Sunshine Coast.  

And Southern Air Beech 1900C VH-VSO arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane then departed to Cairns. It had earlier flown down from Cairns and Townsville to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 14 February, VH-VSO flew down from Cairns to Charleville Airport and then Melbourne (Moorabbin).

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 "Envoy 74" Spotted at Hamilton Island Airport

On Friday 13 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 as  "Envoy 74" was photographed at Hamilton Island Airport.  It flew up from Canberra via stops at Coffs Harbour and Bundaberg Airports - seemingly on a training flight.

It later departed Hamilton Island Airport for Townsville. 

UPDATE!  On Saturday 14 February, A62-001 "Envoy 74" flew South from Townsville to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then Rockhampton Airport before continuing down to the Gold Coast and then back to Canberra.

Photo taken by Kellie Leonard  ©

Victoria Based USA Registered Embraer 505 Phenom 300E Bizjet N227SJ Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 12 February, Victoria Based USA Registered Embraer 505 Phenom 300E bizjet N227SJ was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Warrnambool. 

File photo

UPDATE!  On Friday 13 February, N227SJ departed Rockhampton Airport for Hamilton Island Airport.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 15 February, N227SJ departed Hamilton Island Airport for Warrnambool.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 12 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-004 as "Dragon 44" arrived into Rockhampton Airport after earlier departing RAAF Base Amberley and completing a long air-to-air refuelling session East of Sunshine Coast.  After a crew change it departed back direct to Amberley.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 Bizjet VH-PIY "Machflight 41" Pops into Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 11 February, McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 41" visited Gladstone Airport from the Sunshine Coast via Archerfield.

File photo

Auriga Assets / Heli-Aust Whitsundays Airbus EC135P3H helicopter VH-ZFD flew down from Mackay Airport to Gladstone Airport.  Sistership, Eurocopter EC135 P2 helicopter VH-ZGZ departed Gladstone Airport to the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Port Macquarie and Dyke Point (Newcastle). 

Of interest, Auriga Assets / Heli-Aust Whitsundays Eurocopter EC135 P2+ helicopter VH-XUV continues to operate out of Gladstone Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 11 February, Seair Pacific (Istlecote) Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX VH-LYI flew into Middlemount Aerodrome from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before then flying down to Maryborough Airport and then back to Hervey Bay Airport.

Central Highlands Aerial Services (CHAS) Air Tractors VH-FZV and VH-JQW were noted operating out of my local Clermont Aerodrome on aerial spraying of some local farmland.  They looked to fly up from and then later return to their landing site just to the North of Emerald township.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 12 February, both VH-FZV and VH-JQW again completed aerial spraying operations out of Clermont Aerodrome.

Finally, also on Wednesday 11 February, Australian Army new Airbus Helicopters H135 'Juno' training helicopter N52-103 as "Warhorse 35" flew up from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre to complete airwork at the Sunshine Coast and then the Wide Bay Training Area before then landing at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It then departed back to Oakey as "Warhorse 31". 

And late on Wednesday evening, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 "Wedgetail 01" completed a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown via a missed approach at the Sunshine Coast before later returning from Rocky to Williamtown.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ Bizjet VH-JSZ Pops into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 9 February, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and then departed to Mackay Airport and Clermont Aerodrome before it then departed back to Archerfield.

File photo

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 10 February, VH-JSZ flew the same route again!

Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK flew up from Orange and the Sunshine Coast to Bundaberg Airport, Emerald Airport and then Mackay Airport.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 11 February, VH-CMK departed Mackay Airport back to Emerald and Bundaberg Airports and then the Sunny Coast and back to Orange.

And Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and Melbourne (Essendon) to Roma Airport and then to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It then flew down to the Gold Coast, Ararat and then back to Moorabbin.