Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 - The Departure of Personnel and Equipment From Rockhampton Airport Continues

Local spotters were again treated to a real beauty of a visitor with Qantas Airbus A330-303 VH-QPA making a stunning sight as it arrived at Rockhampton Airport on Friday 29 July.



The Airbus flew direct from Sydney as QF6020, and it is the first time a Qantas Airbus aircraft has arrived at Rockhampton Airport. After spending some time loading freight and passengers, it later departed for Melbourne as QF1350.




Meanwhile, heard departing to the South (and most probably back to their home) much earlier in the morning, were Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Westland Sea King Mk.50A helicopters N16-125 ("Shark 10") and N16-239 ("Shark 21"). They are pictured at Rockhampton Airport earlier during the Exercise.



There are also presently only a handful of Australian Army helicopters at Rockhampton Airport.

One other notable movement - albeit at about 5000 feet above Rockhampton Airport - were a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft flying together to the South as "Reaper".



We thank the local spotters for their pictures!