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

On Monday 10 August, Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-XZT was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland after it was acquired by the airline from Singapore Airlines (SilkAir).

VH-XZT 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-MGN and was registered to and delivered to Qantas Airways at Alice Springs in February 2026.

In mid-April this year, VH-XZT was ferried across from Alice Springs to Brisbane before it then entered service about a month later. It entered service wearing an all white livery (pictured) and was re-painted in Townsville into the standard 'silver roo' Qantas Airways livery in July. It was also given the name 'Bright'.

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).  All four have now visited CQ - all at Mackay Airport!

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  ©

An important announcement about the future of the CQ Plane Spotting Blog main site!

Due to the limited time in my life with a full-time job, wife, kids and other personal pursuits, the time that I can spend writing posts for the CQ Plane Spotting Blog main site has significantly diminished in recent times.

Consequently, moving forward, the only details of aircraft movements that will be posted on here will be of a significant nature - for example, first visits of aircraft and airframes as well as significant military and general charter flights - plus news that affects airports and aircraft based in the region.

I find a lot of movements of some aircraft repetitive with the same corporate business jets and prop aircraft visiting 1-2 times per week each week. The mentions of these aircraft will most likely cease from now on with possibly the occasional mention in passing relating to other significant movements as mentioned above.

Please understand the CQ Plane Spotting Blog main site will not be closing - it will just be a source of significant and important movements and news information moving forward.

Posts, including photos, will continue to appear on a daily or even more frequent basis on our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting

Thanks Damian F.

Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Grand Caravan EX N512EX Calls into Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 11 July, Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Grand Caravan EX N512EX was noted landing at Emerald Airport from Archerfield.  It then headed South-East to a nearby property for a demonstration before returning to Emerald Airport and then up to Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 12 July, N512EX looked to return to Emerald Airport where it then stayed until early August!

While Leppington Pastoral Co. (NSW) Beech B300 Super King Air 350i VH-JET departed Longreach Airport for the North-West.  It subsequently ended up at Hamilton Island Airport.

And Queensland Police Service (Airwing) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300 King Air 350i VH-8TT is currently based out of Rockhampton Airport and completed local aerial survey flights.  It appears to have arrived the previous day from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 12 July, VH-8TT completed more aerial survey flights out of and back to Rockhampton Airport.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

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.

File photo

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.

Execujet Australia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-LEP departed Hamilton Island Airport to Melbourne (Avalon).  It seems to have flown up from Mildura on Thursday 2 July.

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.

Finally, over the weekend, on Saturday 4 July, Port Macquarie Helicopters / Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-8DD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Port McQuarrie and then departed to Hamilton Island Airport.

Photos taken by Lloyd Fox and Liam Sellick  ©

Port Macquarie Helicopters / Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-8DD at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Saturday 4 July, Port Macquarie Helicopters / Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-8DD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Port McQuarrie.

File photo

It later departed to Hamilton Island Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 4 July, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614"  flew up from Brisbane to Moranbah Airport and then Cairns before later flying down to Blackall Airport and then Rockhampton Airport and then back to Brisbane.

We don't mention the LifeFlight Challengers much any more but they are still regular visitors to CQ Airports!

Photo taken by Trevor Hardsman  ©

New Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VD First Visit into CQ at Mackay Airport - UPDATED!

On Friday 3 July, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VD was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport. It operated as VOZ609/610 from and back to Brisbane.

Photo updated!

VH-8VD was delivered into Brisbane from the USA at the start of June.  It then entered service a week later on Monday 8 June.

The aircraft was named 'Fairhaven Beach' and is the 19th B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Nice!

Photo taken by Ryan Hothersall  ©

Albury-based Textron (Cessna) 525 CitationJet M2 Bizjet VH-JSO Calls into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Wednesday 1 July, Albury-based Textron (Cessna) 525 CitationJet M2 bizjet VH-JSO arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Canberra.

File photo

UPDATE!  On Thursday 2 July, VH-JSO departed Rockhampton Airport for Bundaberg Airport. 

UPDATE!  On Friday 3 July, VH-JSO departed Maryborough Airport for Canberra.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 1 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-001 as "Envoy 99" flew up from Canberra to a missed approach at Emerald Airport and then returned to Canberra.

Finally, very late on Tuesday 30 June, Southern Air Services Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 bizjet VH-APJ arrived into Longreach Airport from Dubbo.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Navair Flight Operations P/L new Pilatus PC-24 Bizjet VH-DMS Calls into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 30 June, Navair Flight Operations P/L new Pilatus PC-24 bizjet VH-DMS visited Mackay Airport from Cessnock.

File photo

While a trio of bizjets visited Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport - McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 41" and McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 06" both arrived from and departed back to Brisbane while Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-87X flew up from Bankstown before then flying down to Sydney.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 1 July, VH-87X visited Mackay Airport from Bankstown.

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

UPDATE!  On Thursday 2 July, VH-CMK returned South from Mackay Airport back to the Sunny Coast and Orange.

Finally, also on Tuesday 30 June, National Jet Express Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-8QB visited Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast as JTE440/1.

And Nexus Airlines (Aviair) Dash-8-Q400 VH-8XC completed a flight to Roma Airport from and back to Brisbane as CT811/2.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©