Bizjets at Central Queensland Airports Over the Last Week or so

Perhaps the biggest and best bizjet movements in Central Queensland over the last week or so have been three big Bombardier Global Express bizjets that have been noted calling into the Whitsundays at various times.

Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 bizjet N50XC touched down at Hamilton Island on Saturday 25 January from Cairns.  It had earlier touched down from Beijing.  N50XC - pictured below at Gladstone Airport in 2012 - departed Hamo for Brisbane on Monday 27 January.

Gandel Investments (The Gandel Group) Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express VH-TGG visited Hamilton Island on Tuesday 28 January.  It arrived from, and later departed back to Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.

It's also worth mentioning that ExecuJet Australia Bombardier Global Express VH-ICV departed Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport on Saturday 18 January for the Gold Coast and then later Subang in Malaysia.

On the smaller side of the bizjet scale, GetJets (Skypac Aviation)  Cessna 510 Citation Mustang VH-NEQ touched down at Hamilton Island from Bankstown on Saturday 25 January.  Soon after, it made the quick hop over to Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport where it was parked.  Then on Tuesday 28 January, VH-NEQ departed Proserpine for Hamilton Island from where it later departed back to Bankstown.

Last week as we posted below, Gladstone played host to a couple of great bizjets on Friday 24 January with Conoco Phillips-operated Gulfstream G550 (GV-SP) N662CP visiting for the morning from Brisbane.

Later on Friday 24 January, Raytheon 390 Premier 1 N7088S also touched down at Gladstone but from its Mackay base.  It is believed that N7088S departed back to Mackay on Saturday 25 January.

The Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP VH-SGY has had a busy few days with, at the time of writing, VH-SGY noted visiting North Queensland as Tropical Cyclone Dylan approaches the Queensland coast.  It was also noted visiting Bundaberg Airport on Tuesday 27 January and Longreach Airport last Wednesday 21 January.

Finally, Corporate Aviation Bell 429 helicopter VH-EQP made its way North to Hamilton Island from Southport via Gladstone on Thursday 23 January.  It returned back to Southport - again via Gladstone - on Tuesday 27 January.

Yet more great corporate movements into Central Queensland!

All photos taken by Jamie C  © 

Our Airline / Air Nauru Boeing B737-300 VH-NLK at Gladstone Airport - In New Colours!!

As predicted, a different Our Airline / Air Nauru Boeing B737-300 was spotted visiting Gladstone Airport on Wednesday 29 January on yet another Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter from flight Brisbane.  This time, the aircraft to touch down was VH-NLK.

And what a beauty as VH-NLK has only just been re-painted into the lovely Our Airline blue livery from its old and out-dated Norfolk Air livery - as shown below in 2012.

VH-NLK touched down as RON914 and later departed back to Brisbane as RON915.

Certainly a great start to Wednesday, and certainly a great aircraft to capture in Gladstone!

Thanks to Anthony S, Jamie C and Tash C for capturing these great images and taking the time to send them through!

Photos taken by Anthony Schulz, Jamie C and Tash C  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-003 at Rockhampton Airport Yet Again!

After a week where it travelled overseas, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-003 has yet again been photographed at Rockhampton Airport performing a missed approach onto Runway 15.

On Tuesday 28 January, local plane spotter 'IAD' was on hand to capture the MRTT as it departed Rockhampton heading North towards Hamilton Island.  It was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Dragon 15".

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 29 January, Kayanne H captured a RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft - believed to be A30-002 - flying overhead her house as "Wedgetail 2".

It was also believed to have conducted a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

Thanks guys!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Final Virgin Australia Flight into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville

In December 2013, we reported that Virgin Australia had decided to cease its direct flight between Rockhampton and Townsville early this year.  Well that day came on Monday 27 January as Townsville plane spotter 'Shinpow16' captured Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72-500 VH-FVL as it departed Townsville for Rockhampton operating the final VOZ1900 service on behalf of Virgin.

At the time of the announcement of the cancelation of services, Virgin said that passenger numbers had been too low on the Rocky to Townsville flight for some time to support its continuing operation.  However, regular users of the service hit back on social media and in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin newspaper saying that if the scheduling had not been recently changed and the prices increased, there would not have been such low support.

All photos taken by 'Shinpow16'  ©

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72-600 VH-FVR Makes Emergency Landing at Emerald Airport

As reported by the CQ News...

Photo from the CQ News

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72-600 VH-FVR was forced to make at an emergency landing at Emerald Airport late last Thursday 23 January.

The plane had taken off operating to Brisbane as VOZ1264, before a minor engine failure caused it to circle the airport and return.

Emergency services were called to the incident, although no assistance was needed.  Emerald police said the emergency service presence was "precautionary".

Passengers were required to stay overnight in Emerald.

VH-FVR at Rockhampton Airport last year  (File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©)

VH-FVR has since departed Emerald late on Saturday 25 January as VOZ9952.  It re-entered service with VARA early on Sunday 26 January as VOZ1233 to Rockhampton.

Our Airline / Air Nauru Boeing B737-300 VH-INU Touches Down at Gladstone Airport Yet Again!

Our Airline / Air Nauru Boeing B737-300 VH-INU touched down at Gladstone Airport yet again on Monday 27 January.  It was VH-INU's third visit to the industrial city over the last couple of weeks, again on what was believed to be a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter.

Local plane spotter Michael F popped out to Gladstone Airport late on Monday as VH-INU arrived from Brisbane as RON914.

A little later, VH-INU departed to Darwin as RON910.

I suspect that one of Our Airline's other B737-300's may make an appearance at Gladstone in the coming days so stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog!

Thanks to Michael for sending through these awesome images from Monday!

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

More Great Photos of Flying Without an Engine at The Central Queensland Gliding Club

Follower and contributor to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog, Ash B is a member of the Central Queensland Gliding Club, enjoying flying around the skies of Central Queensland in an aircraft without an engine!

Ash has shared some spectacular photos from a recent flight he took from the Club's own McMaster Airfield, to Thangool, via Dululu, Boundary Hill Mine, Callide Power Station, Smokey Creek and then back.

The flight was made by Ash in Grob 102 Astir CS VH-WQL.

He was flying with a mate on Grob 103 Twin Astir glider VH-CQQ.

The Central Queensland Gliding Club is based at Dixalea, off the Burnett Highway, about 83 kilometres from Rockhampton, just south of Dululu.  It is the closest gliding operation to Rockhampton, Gladstone and Emerald.  The club has a 1700 metre grass/gravel strip (Runway 06/24), a clubhouse, bunkhouse, caravan park and hangarage is available. The club owns the airfield.

Visitors are always welcome, and are invited come and join the club at the clubhouse on a flying day and experience the thrill of flight in one of their gliders.  Alternatively, if you've ever thought of learning to fly, the Central Queensland Gliding Club offers "comprehensive training in all aspects of gliding, from training you for your first solo flight, to cross country flying. Their experienced instructors volunteer their time, allowing them to offer the cheapest possible entry into aviation ... and it's lots of fun too!"

Contact the Central Queensland Gliding Club at CQGC11@GMAIL.COM to become involved, or visit their website at http://www.cqgliding.com.au/ .

The Central Queensland also has a selection of photographs posted in their Flickr page which can be view at   http://www.flickr.com/photos/cqgliding/ .

A sincere thanks to Ash for sending through the information and fantastic photographs from the Central Queensland Gliding Club - I know I certainly had heard about it but never actually knew too much the Club! Thanks mate!

Photos taken by Ash Burggraaff  ©