CQ Plane Spotting Historic Spot - Military Exercise Talisman Saber Comes to Gladstone Airport in 2007

Local plane spotter Jamie C has always had a prime plane spotting position next to Gladstone Airport, and over the years, he has been able to photograph pretty much every visitor to arrive at and depart from Gladstone Airport.  In this Historic Spot, we feature some photos Jamie has sent through from 2007, when various Australian Defence Force and American Armed Forces aircraft and helicopters called into Gladstone Airport during Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2007.

Of note was a visit of a pair of United States Marine Corps (USMC) Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters in mid-June 2007.

The Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor transport helicopter.  The two examples that touched down at Gladstone were flown by the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265) known as the "Dragons", and based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan.  The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW).  The two Sea Knights were:

155313 / EP-15

153393 / EP-14

It should be noted that the Squadron has since been re-designated as the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265) and now operates the Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft which made a stunning debut in Australia during Talisman Saber 2013.  MV-22B Osprey 168031 / EP-08 is pictured below also by Jamie but at Rockhampton Airport recently.

Also back in June 2007, Jamie had the pleasure of capturing a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft as they called into Gladstone Airport.  He was lucky to catch an example of the old and the new Hercules aircraft that are or have been operated by the RAAF.

RAAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules A97-006 is pictured below looking resplendent in it old camouflage colour scheme.

While RAAF Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules A97-448 was also captured by Jamie in 2007, wearing a light grey colour scheme.

Since then, the RAAF have acquired a much larger transport aircraft in the form of the mighty Boeing C-17A Globemaster III.  One of the RAAF's newer C-17s A41-210 was captured by Jamie departing Rockhampton Airport recently during Talisman Saber 2013.

Our thanks to Jamie for delving back through is photos to bring a great look back at some of the wonderful military aircraft and helicopters that have called into Gladstone Airport over the years!

All photos taken Jamie C  ©