Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 "Envoy 12" Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 31 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 was spotted on the ground at Rockhampton Airport.

It was flying as "Envoy 12" and arrived from Canberra and RAAF Base Williamtown then departed back to Williamtown.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 31 March, National Jet Express Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-8QB as "Jetex 440" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane and then departed to Cairns and Horn Island as "Jetex 442" on a school holiday charter.  Later it returned to Townsville as "Jetex 445".

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXB flew out from Sunshine Coast to Rolleston Aerodrome and then down to Injune Aerodrome and then back to the Sunshine Coast.

Finally, on Monday 30 March, NQ Goldfields Beech 58 Baron VH-SNZ visited Clermont Aerodrome from Charters Towers Aerodrome again.

Vee H Aviation (Link Airways) Beech B200GT Super King Air 250 VH-VEW also made its usual Monday run up from Brisbane to the Oaky Creek Mine Site and then Clermont Aerodrome and then back to Brisbane.

And Consolidated Pastoral Company P/L Cessna 421C Golden Eagle VH-UTC landed at Longreach Airport from Mount Isa then departed to Archerfield.

North Queensland Warbirds 1969-built Beech H18 VH-MBU Spotted at Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Sunday 29 March, North Queensland Warbirds 1969-built Beech H18 VH-MBU was spotted at Emerald Airport.  It had arrived from Port MacQuarrie.

UPDATE!  On Monday 30 March, VH-MBU departed Emerald Airport for Mareeba.

And Pilatus Australia (South Australia) Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet VH-DMS departed Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport for Toowoomba and Cessnock.  It appears to have arrived from those places on Friday 27 March.

Meanwhile, on Saturday 28 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-007 as "Aussie 495" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to complete a missed approach at Emerald Airport before it then continued on to Townsville.

Whitsunday Helicopter Group / Heli-Aust Whitsundays (Mackay) Eurocopter EC135 P2 helicopter VH-ZGZ departed Gladstone Airport to Toowoomba, Armidale and Dyke Point/Newcastle.

And during the evening, Skytrans Dash-8-200B VH-TQX as "Skytrans 552" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Sydney.

Of interest, Skytrans, which took the SmartLynx brand in July last year to bring it into alignment with other airlines in the Avia Solutions Group, has recently brought back its former branding following the collapse of SmartLynx Latvia at the end of November.

Finally, also on Saturday 28 March, Jetstar Airways Airbus A320-200 VH-YXW departed Australia for good.  It departed Darwin for Senai International Airport (Johor Bahru) in Malaysia as "Southern Cross 2611". 

It is reportedly due to continue to Toulouse in France via Gaya (India) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

Of interest, VH-YXW made its final visit to Central Queensland on last visit on Wednesday 28 January as JST832/3 into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from and back to Melbourne (Tullamarine).

VH-YXW then ferried from Tulla to Singapore the next day on Thursday 29 January before returning to Melbourne at the start of March and the next day, ferrying to Alice Springs for storage.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 Bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 421" Pops into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 27 March, McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 421" flew up from Port MacQuarrie to Mackay Airport and then down to Sunshine Coast.

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Rural Funds Management (A.C.T.) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-STE departed to Emerald Airport to Young and Canberra.

It had arrived into CQ from Canberra at the start of the week and has spent the week visiting Rockhampton, Rolleston, Emerald, Bundaberg and Maryborough Airports - with some multiple visits!

Austrek Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-ZMW arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and then departed to Brisbane.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air A32-003 as "Hudson 07" flew up to Mackay Airport from RAAF Base East Sale and Coffs Harbour.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 28 March, RAAF Super King Air A32-003 "Hudson 07" flew down from Mackay Airport to Birdsville and Port Lincoln.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

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

On Wednesday 25 March, Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK visited Emerald Airport from the Sunshine Coast.  It had flown up from it Orange be the previous day and at the time of writing, it expected to return there on Thursday 26 March.

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While a couple of Pilatus PC-12s visited various places in Central Queensland.

S. Kidman & Co. Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-SKW visited Winton Airport from Archerfield and Dalby.

And Hewitt Agribusiness (Brisbane) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-8HG arrived into Rockhampton Airport from a property near Moura - possibly Degunnie - before it then departed to Wagga Wagga.  It had arrived into Rocky earlier in the week from Archerfield.

UPDATE!  Over the remainder of the week, VH-8HG flew between Rockhampton Airport and Alpha Aerodrome before continuing out to Longreach Airport and then back to Archerfield.  A busy week!

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 25 March, R-Mach Aviation Extra EA 300L VH-LXT departed Rockhampton Airport for The Old Station farm.

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

And McDermott Aviation Bell 214B-1 BigLifter VH-SZV (ex P2-MBH) landed at Mackay Airport from Townsville.

Photo taken by Ross Huntington  ©

A Pair of United States Marine Corps (USMC) Bell Boeing MV-22B Ospreys Spotted at Cloncurry Airport Heading to Darwin

On Wednesday 25 March, a pair of United States Marine Corps (USMC) Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft were spotted passing through Cloncurry Airport.

The two Ospreys were identified as 168642 (YZ-04) and 168678 (YZ-07) and flew up as 'KONA91' from Toowoomba-Wellcamp to Cloncurry Airport and then Darwin.

They are two of four Ospreys 'stored' at Wellcamp that were designated to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 (VMM-363) ‘Lucky Red Lions’ (‘YZ’).

They have seemingly now been reassigned to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (VMM-268) (Reinforced) ‘Red Dragons' ('YQ') with 168642 since noted re-coded YQ-03 of VMM-268.

The remaining two Ospreys at Wellcamp are expected to also fly up to Darwin in the coming days where they will be part of this year's Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) Aviation Combat Element (ACE).

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Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 "Envoy 88" Spotted at Gladstone Airport

Late on Tuesday 24 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 was spotted arriving into Gladstone Airport. It flew up from Canberra and was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Envoy 88".

Then on Wednesday 25 March, A62-001 "Envoy 88" departed Gladstone Airport and returned to Canberra.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Jamie C for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Jamie C  ©

American-Registered Cirrus SR22T N312GM pops into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 24 March, American-Registered Cirrus SR22T N312GM was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

Of interest, over the weekend, another Cirrus SR22 VH-SRY flew across from Exmouth in Western Australia to Newman and Ayers Rock before it then continued to Longreach Airport and the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

Finally, also on Tuesday 24 March, Yak 52 Aerostar (Yakovlev) YAK-52 VH-YDB completed a run out of Rockhampton Airport to the Capricorn Coast and back.

Surveillance Australia (Leidos SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-XNC as "Rescue 440" Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 23 March, Surveillance Australia (Leidos SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNC as "Rescue 440" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns via Search ops off the Central coast and after a refuel it departed back to the search area and then back to Cairns.

File photo

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour then down to Stawell and back to Moorabbin.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 06" departed Mackay Airport for the Sunshine Coast.  It had earlier flown up from Brisbane.

Careflight (NT) Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air VH-ZCX as "Careflight 24" flew into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Port Macquarie.  It later departed to Bankstown.

And GBR Helicopters Bell 206B JetRanger III VH-YEC arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns, Townsville and Mackay Airports.

Finally, late last Friday 20 March, Air Link (Dubbo) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SEQ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane and then departed to Gladstone Airport and then departed back to Brisbane now in the wee small hours of Saturday 21 March.

Photo taken by Wally H  ©

Two Australian Army UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters - A60-006 & A60-009 as "Valkyrie" Return South via CQ Airports After Exercises in Townsville - Plus More!

On Monday 23 March, the two Australian Army UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters that deployed to Townsville a couple of weeks ago, were noted flying back South to the Oakey Army Aviation Centre from there via Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg Airports.  They were identified as A60-006 and A60-009 and were heard flying together as "Valkyrie".

Defence image...

The two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the 16th Aviation Brigade were in Townsville to participate in Exercise Valkyrie Crawl at Townsville Field Training Area.  This training saw infantry soldiers integrate with the Black Hawk helicopters to conduct familiarisation training which enables them to support future operations.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 23 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-003 as "Envoy 83" flew up from Canberra to complete a missed approach at Longreach Airport before then flying back to Canberra.

And RAAF Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft A97-448 as "Trojan 74" visited Williamson Airfield within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) from RAAF Base Richmond.

LifeFlight Agusta Westland AW139 Helicopter VH-XIA as "Rescue 599" Spotted at Clermont Hospital - Plus More!

Late on Thursday 19 March, LifeFlight Agusta Westland AW139 Helicopter VH-XIA as "Rescue 599" was spotted by me as it flew into Clermont Hospital on what we believe to be a medical retrieval flight.

It flew down from Townsville and Moranbah and then to Clermont Hospital before it then completed a medical evacuation flight to Mackay Airport. It then flew back to Townsville. This aircraft was at Longreach Airport last week - as posted below.

UPDATE!  On Monday 23 March, AW139 VH-XIA as "Rescue 599" flew down from Townsville to Archerfield via Mackay, Gladstone and Caloundra Airports.

Then on Friday 20 March, McDermott Aviation Bell 214B-1 BigLifter VH-SZV (ex P2-MBH) passed through Rockhampton Airport from the South to the North. 

UPDATE!  VH-SZV was spotted at Cooktown on Saturday 21 March.

Photo taken by Chris Vela  ©

And Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services new Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF flew up to Hamilton Island from Archerfield. 

UPDATE!  On Saturday 21 March, VH-VTF departed Hamilton Island Airport for Sydney.

Finally, also on Friday 20 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-206 as "Stallion 61" flew up the inland from RAAF Base Amberley via overhead Emerald to complete a missed approach at Hamilton Island Airport.  It then flew South to complete one more missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before then flying down to Amberley.

And Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-006 as "Wallaby 52" flew low level up the inland from Amberley to near Emerald before then flying East to near Bundaberg and then back to Amberley.