Saturday, July 13, 2013

Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2013: Some Photos from Rockhampton Airport on Saturday

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!

1 comment:

  1. What's the VTOL aircraft please (the HarriersI recognise) --- the prop job.

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