A Few Plane Spotting Photos from Gladstone Airport on Monday

Local plane spotter Anthony S ventured to Gladstone Airport on Monday 30 June and captured some of the goings on during a busy morning of General Aviation (GA) visitors along with the usual commercial movements - including QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOE which he captured arriving from Rockhampton as QLK2301.

Fellow QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOS was captured departing to Sydney as QLK2121.

QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXR was also captured by Anthony as it touched down from Brisbane as QJE1704.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72-500 VH-FVL was also captured arriving from Brisbane as VOZ1709.  It departed back there later as VOZ1712.

On the GA scene, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK called in for a visit, arriving from Townsville and later departing to Brisbane.

J.M. Kelly (Project Builders) Cessna 310 VH-FFA was also spotted departing Gladstone, returning to its Rockhampton base after a brief visit.

Finally, the visiting Careflight Queensland Bell 412 VH-XCF was towed out of its hangar and had an engine run.  VH-XCF is at Gladstone while fellow Careflight Bell 412 VH-XCY is receiving maintenance.

From all accounts, Anthony had an enjoyable morning of plane spotting, and we sincerely thank him for sharing his great images from Gladstone Airport with us!

All photos taken by Anthony Schulz  ©

A Trio of Bizjets Kick off a Great Week at Hamilton Island Airport on Monday

It's a big week of aircraft movements at Hamilton Island Airport with the return of Qantas mainline services on later on this week, however on Monday 30 June, a trio of bizjets were noted calling in that have got the week of plane spotting at Hamo off to a great start!

Perhaps the nicest to call in was Macau-based Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 B-LOL, which arrived early in the morning from Cairns.  It had earlier arrived from Hong Kong.

B-LOL at Cairns Airport last year  (Photo taken by the FNQ Skies Blog  ©)

Plane spotter 'AC' captured a photo of B-LOL as it sat parked at Hamilton Island Airport where it remains at the time of writing.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Also touching down early on Monday was Australian Corporate Jet Centres / Mitchell Air Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-WFE, which flew in from Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.

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

After about an hour on the ground, it departed back to Essendon.

Finally, completing the trio of bizjets on Monday 30 June was (believed to be) EHC Holdings (USA) Dassault Falcon 900EX N311JA.  Reports suggest that it arrived from Ayres Rock via Townsville, and later departed to Brisbane.

It's worth noting that Sundown Pastoral Company (of Bonogin in the Gold Coast Hinterland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NSI called in from the Gold Coast on Monday as well.

Finally, on Saturday 28 June, Sunshine Air Services Raytheon Hawker 800XP VH-VRC called into Hamilton Island briefly from Melbourne (Essendon).  Also, in response to a cancelled flight in the wake of the much publicised power failure at Sydney Airport's Terminal 2 last Friday 27 June, Jetstar Airways operated an additional flight into Hamo from and back to Sydney on Saturday 28 June, with A320 VH-VQR operating as JST7302/7303.

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VUR - Plus a Few Others - at Rockhampton Airport Sunday

Local plane spotter 'IAD' ventured to Rockhampton Airport late on Sunday 29 June to capture some images of Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VUR which called in operating the VOZ1245 service from Brisbane.

As seen, VH-VUR still wears the old Virgin Blue colours but with a white nose.  It has also now lost its LiveTV 'hump' that was on the top-rear of the fuselage.

Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) (Australian Helicopters) Bell 412EP VH-EPR "Rescue 300" was also spotted by 'IAD' as it returned from a med-evac flight to Emerald.  It is believed that fellow Australian Helicopters Bell 412EP VH-PXY - "Rescue 920" - also called into Rockhampton Airport earlier on Sunday from the nearby Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) where there is currently an Australian Army exercise underway.

Meanwhile, earlier last week, 'IAD' captured a great photos of Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Hawker Beechcraft B200 VH-FDM returning to Rockhampton Airport.

It joined fellow RFDS King Airs VH-FDW and VH-FDR on their ramp on the General Aviation (GA) side of the Rockhampton Airport.

Finally, Australasian Jet-operated Cessna 206 VH-XBF has been flying in and out of Rockhampton Airport over recent days.  VH-XBF is one of two Australasian Jet Cessnas that Ergon Energy’s Remote Observation Automated Modelling Economic Simulation (ROAMES) project of aerial surveys.  It was also spotted around Gladstone the previous week.

Sincere thanks to 'IAD' for his updates from Rockhampton Airport, and for sending through these excellent photos.

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Recently Re-painted Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VUN Pops into Mackay Airport

We continue to record the 'first' visits of the recently re-painted Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 and Boeing B737 jets into Central Queensland Airports.

Recently re-painted B737-800 VH-VUI at Rockhampton Airport  (File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©)

On Sunday 29 June, B737-800 VH-VUN visited Mackay Airport on a scheduled service from Brisbane as VOZ607.  It later departed back to Brisbane as VOZ610.

It's worth noting that E-190 VH-ZPJ remains overseas being re-painted.

There'll be a break now in the re-painting of the B737s with a QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 - believed to be VH-NXE - entering the paint shop in Townsville to have the new Qantas livery applied!

A Study of Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72-500 VH-FVU Departing Gladstone Airport

Local plane spotter Jamie C has sent through some images he recently captured of Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72-500 VH-FVU as it departed Gladstone Airport on a scheduled service to Brisbane.  Sit back and enjoy these magnificent photos!

Simply stunning images - sincere thanks to Jamie for sending them through and allowing us to share his fantastic work with you all!

All photos taken by Jamie C  ©

Recent Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 Action at Rockhampton Airport

Just a quick post to share some great photos of some recent Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 action captured by local spotters 'IAD' and Phil M at Rockhampton Airport.

'IAD' captured the recently re-painted VH-VUI arriving and departing on a recent late-afternoon flight from and back to Brisbane.

As we've mentioned, Virgin are re-painting their Boeing B737-800s - and Embraer E-190s - into the new Virgin Australia livery.  At the time of writing, VH-VUN has recently emerged from the paint-shop and re-joined the Virgin fleet.

Meanwhile, Phil M has share some great photos of VH-YFE, VH-YFI and VH-YFK when they also recently visited Rocky on scheduled services from and back to Brisbane.

Thanks guys for sharing these great photos!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Phil M  ©