Locally-Based American-Registered Eclipse EA500 Bizjet N257AK Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 1 June, the often visiting American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK was spotted arriving into Mackay Airport.  It flew up from Archerfield.

After some time on the ground, N257AK departed Mackay Airport and completed the short hop up to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

Meanwhile, also spotted at Mackay Airport, also on Monday 1 June, was the also often visiting FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB which arrived from Toowoomba and Archerfield before later returning direct to Toowoomba.

While another familiar visitor in the form of Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH which also arrived directly from Toowoomba.

Also parked nearby was Toowoomba-based Beech 58 Baron VH-CLE which appeared to arrive into Mackay Airport from there last Thursday 28 May.

Proserpine-based Piper PA-34-200T Seneca VH-ZMY was photographed departing Mackay Airport to parts unknown.

While Whitsunday Air Services / Hamilton Island Air Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 Airvan VH-KIQ was also spotted departing to parts unknown - perhaps 'home' to Hamilton Island Airport.

Finally, also noted visiting Mackay Airport, and also Rockhampton Airport, also on Monday 1 June, was the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK.  It started and finished the day in Cairns.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter 'JM' for taking the time to capture and sending through these great photos!

All photos taken by 'JM'  ©

Timberline Helicopters (USA) Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk N563DJ Pops into Charleville Airport

A nice helicopter to be noted passing through Charleville Airport on Sunday 31 May was Timberline Helicopters (USA) Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk N563DJ.  It looked to fly in from Scone in New South Wales and later depart to Mount Isa where it appears to be staying for the night.

On Monday 1 June, N563DJ was due to continue to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Of interest, the refurbished ex-US Army Blackhawk has been operating during the Australian bushfire season out of Scone with locally-based Pay's Helicopters as "Helitak 260".  Pay's Helicopters has been in partnership with Idaho-based Timberline Helicopters since 2016.  Under the agreement, a refurbished UH-60A Black Hawk has been used extensively in firebombing operations across regional New South Wales.

Photo taken by Robert Myers  ©

Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZLK Pops into Rockhampton Airport

During the morning on Sunday 31 May, Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZLK was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to arrive from Brisbane on a charter flight on behalf of Pel-Air Aviation as PFY9832.

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After a short time on the ground, VH-ZLK returned to Brisbane but as PFY9331.

Meanwhile, noted calling into Rockhampton Airport, but on Saturday 30 May, was Airlie Beach-based Beech D55 Baron VH-VCE.  It arrived from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour and later departed to Emerald Airport.  VH-VCE then returned to Rockhampton Airport before departing to Mackay Airport - and possibly back to Shute Harbour(?).

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft A34-007 "Wallaby 54" Spotted at Roma Airport

On Saturday 30 May, a rare weekend visit by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan A34-007 was captured by local plane spotter Ken D at Roma Airport.

It looked to fly in from RAAF Base Amberley.

After completing what looked to be a transfer of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, A34-007 departed back to Amberley.  A34-007 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Wallaby 54".

Meanwhile, while I was at work on Friday 29 May, an unidentified RAAF C-27J Spartan flew over Clermont heading North.  Research suggests that it could have been A34-005 "Wallaby 77" which looked to complete a return flight from Amberley to Townsville and back.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Ken D for taking the time to capture and send through this great photo!

Photo taken by Ken Dawes  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-001 Pops into Bundaberg Airport as "Envoy 87"

On Friday 29 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-001 was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport.  It looked to arrive directly from Canberra and was noted flying as "Envoy 87".

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After just after just under an hour on the ground, A56-001 departed Bundaberg Airport and returned to Canberra, again as "Envoy 87".

Of interest, this was the second visit in less than a week to Bundy by one of the three new Falcon 7X bizjets that are operated by 34 Squadron from RAAF Base Fairbairn at Canberra.

Meanwhile, also noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport, also on Friday 29 May, was the locally-based Greensill Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ.  It arrived from the Sunshine Coast where it appears to have been parked since mid-April.

Photo taken by Isaac S  ©

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Back in CQ and Spotted at my local Clermont Aerodrome

On Thursday 28 May, Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was back in CQ for the second time this week, this time landing at my local Clermont Aerodrome.

I was able to get some photos as the sleek little Citation bizjet rested quietly during the afternoon after it had earlier arrived from the Sunshine Coast.

At the time of writing, it appears that VH-MMC is staying at Clermont Aerodrome for at least the night.

UPDATE!  During the late afternoon on Friday 29 May, VH-MMC departed Clermont Aerodrome and returned to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 28 May, locally-based Cessna 208 Caravan VH-DJG was noted flying back to its Natal Downs base after spending some time at Archerfield.  It flew from there via Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Friday 29 May, VH-DJG returned to Archerfield from Natal Downs, again flying via Rockhampton Airport.

Also noted visiting Rockhampton Airport, also on Thursday 28 May, was Hinterland Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-HLJ which arrived from and later departed back to Cairns as 'HND420'.

While the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was back in CQ also on Thursday 28 May, this time it called into Mackay Airport while flying from Brisbane to Cairns.  It also visited Charleville and Roma Airports on Wednesday 27 May and Rockhampton Airport on Monday 25 May - see Blog post below.

UPDATE!  On Friday 29 May, VH-SGQ called into Rockhampton Airport while flying from Cairns and Townsville back to Brisbane.

Finally, also on Thursday 28 May, Gayndah-based Beech 95-B55 VH-MYM flew from there to Mackay Airport and back via Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) and Rockhampton Airports.

The Search for Missing Fisherman Brings AMSA Challenger 604 Bizjets VH-XNF "Rescue 550" and VH-XNE "Rescue 330" to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Essendon

On Thursday 28 May, the search for a missing fisherman off Hervey Bay saw a pair of Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjets coordinate the search after flying all the way up from Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.

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VH-XNF as "Rescue 550" flew up from Essendon to search off Hervey Bay.  After some time, it landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport to refuel before then flying up to Cairns.

It appears that VH-XNF flew from Cairns to Essendon on Wednesday 27 May so its return to Cairns was to be expected.

VH-XNE as "Rescue 330" then also flew up from Essendon to the Hervey Bay area to continue the search.  It too was due to land at Hervey Bay Airport but ended up landing at Brisbane.

It's was also heard that a pair of helicopters were also participating in the search also on Thursday 28 May - LifeFlight Rescue Bell 412EP VH-XCY as "Rescue 522" and Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) Eurocopter (Bolkow) BO105 CBS-5 helicopter VH-NVH(?) "Lifesaver 46".

Our thoughts and prayers are with the missing man and his family and friends.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-213 "Stallion 17” Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 28 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-213 was noted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to fly up from RAAF Base Amberley.

After completing the missed approach, A41-213 flew North and completed another missed approach at Townsville.  It then returned direct to Amberley.

A41-213 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Stallion 17".

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 28 May, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-042 was noted passing through Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to arrive from Townsville and later depart to Brisbane.

A40-042 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Pegasus 9".

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 Bizjet VH-SIY Pop into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 27 May, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY was noted touching down at Rockhampton Airport after flying in from Townsville.  After a short time on the ground, it appears to have continued South to Brisbane before heading to its Sunshine Coast base.

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It appears that VH-SIY flew North to Townsville from the Sunny Coast and Brisbane the previous day.

Meanwhile, a much publicised visitor to Blackwater Airport, also on Wednesday 27 May, was
LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" which arrived from and later departed back to Brisbane.

Also this week, and on Wednesday 27 May, the stream of light General Aviation (GA) aircraft completing charter flights into various CQ Airports has continued.

Air Gold Coast Beech 58 Baron VH-YDC looked to arrive into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville before later departing to Archerfield and then the Gold Coast.  It flew North the previous day.

While Seair Pacific / Istlecote DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF completed its weekly run from the Gold Coast and Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport before again flying up to Bowen Airport and then Townsville.  It then returned South over the same route. 

And Brisbane-based Olive Vale Pastoral Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68C VH-OLV called into Rockhampton Airport from Laura in Far North Queensland before later departing to Gladstone Airport and Archerfield.

Out at Biloela / Thangool Airport, BPW Aviation (of Scone in New South Wales) Beech 58 Baron VH-SQC completed its weekly visit, arriving from Scone and Maitland on Tuesday 26 May before departing back to Maitland on Wednesday 27 May.

Finally, at my local Clermont Aerodrome, also on Wednesday 27 May, Beech 58 Baron VH-KGK visited from Archerfield, while Corporate Air  / Vee H Aviation Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEY looked to visit from Brisbane.

Photo taken by Russell Prothero  ©

Jetstream Aviation (Emprja P/L) Cessna 550 Citation II Bizjet VH-VDF Pops into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 26 May, Jetstream Aviation (Emprja P/L) Cessna 550 Citation II VH-VDF was noted arriving into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from its Sunshine Coast base.

After a short time on the ground, VH-VDF then returned to the Sunny Coast where it was photographed on short final to Runway 36.

Meanwhile, also noted returning to the Sunshine Coast, also on Tuesday 26 May, was Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC which departed Biloela / Thangool Airport after it touched down there from the Sunny Coast the previous day - see Blog post below.

Also noted visiting Biloela / Thangool Airport yet again this week was BPW Aviation (of Scone in New South Wales) Beech 58 Baron VH-SQC which touched down from Scone and Maitland on Tuesday 26 May.

UPDATE!  VH-SQC departed Bilo back to Maitland early on Wednesday 27 May.

While Vanderfield Cessna 210N VH-JSC also popped into Biloela / Thangool Airport, also on Tuesday 26 May, arriving its Toowoomba base and departing to Townsville.  VH-JSC was also in the region at Mackay Airport and Bilo again about a fortnight ago.

Finally, also on Tuesday 26 May, Australian Country Choice Properties (Brisbane) Cessna 560 Citation V Encore bizjet VH-ACC was noted departing Wellclose Station and returning to Archerfield.  It had flown into there over the weekend on Saturday 23 May.

Sincere thanks to the Sunshine Coast Plane Spotting Facebook page for allowing us to share their great photo of VH-VDF!