Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 - Friday's Highlights at Rockhampton Airport

After a pretty slow start to the day's action, the afternoon of Friday 8 July saw a couple of lovely fixed wing movements and no less than 12 Australian Army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk helicopters either arrive and stay, or pass through for fuel, at Rockhampton Airport.

In the morning, World Airways McDonnell Douglas MD-11(ER) N277WA departed to Hawaii as WOA9612.


Later in the morning, two Australian Army Eurocopter EC665 Tiger (ARH) Helicopters left together as "Marlin 11". Pictured below are A38-008 and A38-007.


Another Tiger left shortly after as "Marlin 13".

In the early afternoon, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130H Hercules A97-009 arrived and departed as "Trojan 06".



One of the highlights for the day however arrived as the sun was setting, with United States Marines (USMC) Gulfstream C-20G (Gulfstream IV) 165153 touching down on Rockhampton's Runway 15 as "Ghost 53".


Another interesting arrival was Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Westland Sea King Mk.50A with serial number N16-125. The Sea King uses the callsign "Shark 10".


Lastly, throughout the afternoon around a dozen Australian Army Sikorsky S70A-9 Blackhawk helicopters arrived at Rockhampton Airport, with most staying for night, and some departing after taking on fuel. Some of these choppers are pictured below...

A25-218 arriving as "Tester 04"


A25-213 arriving as "Blackhawk 213"


A25-206 arriving as "Warhorse 206"


A25-203 arriving as "Blackhawk 203"


At the end of the days spotting, both side of Rockhampton's cross-runway 04/22 were full the Tiger and Blackhawk helicopters taking up all the available parking spaces!