Quite possibly the highlight of the aircraft action at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 13 July was the movements of the United States Navy (USN) Grumman C-2A Greyhounds. The two Greyhounds - which are flown by the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30 Detachment 5) - both departed Rockhampton Airport and returned at various times during the day.
Pictured below are 162175 / NF-33 flying as "Password 33".
162175 / NF-33 returning later in the day.
And 162152 / NF-32 flying as "Password 32".
162152 / NF-32 returning around dusk and taxing to dispersal.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-210 spent the night at Rockhampton Airport after arriving late yesterday, and early on Saturday 13 July, it departed to Darwin as "Stallion 32".
A little later, fellow RAAF C-17A Globemaster A41-206 arrived into Rockhampton as "Stallion 31".
A41-206 eventually departed to Darwin as well.
As the afternoon went on, a flight of three Australian Army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk Helicopters - A25-205, A25-206 and A25-225 - departed for the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as "Spartan Black".
Also photographed departing to Shoalwater Bay were a pair of United States Navy (USN) Sikorsky HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. As with the previous day, the two Seahawks - which are flown by the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC-85) "Firehawks" - were believed to be 165118 / NW-310 and 165257 / NW-311, and were heard to be using the radio callsign of "Firehawk 11".
Other United States Navy (USN) aircraft to call into Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 14 July included Boeing C-40A Clipper (B737-7AFC) 165836 / JV-836 of the VR-57 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron, which arrived from, and later departed back to Townsville as "Convoy 4433".
USN Lockheed C-130T Hercules - serial 165160 - coded JW5160 - of the VR-62 Fleet Logistic Unit - was pictured arriving into Rockhampton Airport as "Convoy 7261".
After dark, fellow USN Lockheed C-130T Hercules - serial 165351 - coded RU5351 - of the VR-55 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 55 - was pictured parked on Taxiway Juliette at Rockhampton Airport as it prepared for departure as "Convoy 3804".
Lastly, a special visitor - albeit briefly - was a United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed MC-130H Hercules wearing the serial 83-1212. The Hercules is operated by the USAF's 1st Special Operations Squadron (1st SOS) and popped in to Rockhampton from Townsville. 83-1212 was heard to return to Townsville a little later using the radio callsign "Stilt 11".
What a great day! There was even a rumour of a Bell / Boeing V-22 Osprey scheduled to visit Rockhampton, but unfortunately that hasn't happened... yet!
What's the VTOL aircraft please (the HarriersI recognise) --- the prop job.
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