Virgin Australia E-190 VH-ZPR - Still with its Red Nose - Calls into Gladstone Airport Saturday

Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPR called into Gladstone Airport on Saturday 31 January as VOZ1709 from Brisbane.

Local plane spotter Michael F was on hand to capture VH-ZPR, which still wears a red nose cone with its Virgin Australia livery!

VH-ZPR was turned-around and later departed back to Brisbane as VOZ1712.  It continues a great trend of Virgin Australia jets calling into Gladstone Airport with - as mentioned below - Virgin B737-700 VH-VBY calling in last Thursday.

Meanwhile, the locally-based Careflight Bell 412EP VH-XCY was also captured by Michael as it returned to Gladstone after making an early morning flight to Rockhampton.

VH-XCY was heard to be using its usual radio callsign of "Rescue 544".

Sincere thanks to Michael for capturing these great photos and for sending them through!

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster A41-211 Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport and Low Level Ops over Central Queensland

On Friday 30 January, local plane spotter 'IAD' captured some great photos as Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-211 performed a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

A41-211 was then heard to conduct low-level operations down via Gayndah and West of Gympie at around 2000 feet before it returned to Amberley Air Base.

The Globemaster was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Stallion 42".

Thanks to 'IAD' for capturing and sending through these great photos!

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Virgin Australia B737-700 VH-VBY and more at Gladstone Airport on Thursday

Local plane spotter Anthony S popped out to Gladstone Airport late in the afternoon on Thursday 29 January and captured some great movements in and out of the industrial city including Virgin Australia Boeing B737-700 VH-VBY.

But before VH-VBY touched down, he captured some of the other movements into Gladstone Airport on Thursday afternoon including Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72-500 VH-FVH which departed to Brisbane as VOZ1714.

Shortly after, JetGo Australia Embraer E-135LR VH-JGB then touched down at Gladstone Airport operating the afternoon scheduled JG78/79 service from and back to Sydney.

Anthony also spotted a pair of QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200s - VH-NXD and VH-NXI - as they both arrived and departed on scheduled services from and back to Brisbane.

QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOU was spotted as it departed on its final leg of the QLK2307 service from Cairns to Brisbane via Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone.

Just after VH-QOU departed, the star arrival of the afternoon in the form of Virgin Australia Boeing B737-700 VH-VBY touched down at Gladstone from Brisbane as VOZ1717.

After a quick turnaround, VH-VBY then departed back to Brisbane as VOZ1720.

Some great photos captured by Anthony on Thursday afternoon - my sincere thanks to him for capturing and allowing us to share them with you!

All photos taken by Anthony Schulz  ©

JetGo Australia Embraer E-135LR Jets VH-JGB and VH-JZG at Gladstone Airport Thursday

A double treat of JetGo jets at Gladstone Airport on Thursday 29 January with both Embraer E-135LR jets VH-JGB and VH-JZG calling in on different missions.

After departing Mackay Airport on Wednesday 28 January for Brisbane as JG32 (it arrived the previous evening) VH-JGB then flew up to Townsville as JG33 where it was parked for the night.  Then early on Thursday 29 January, VH-JGB positioned from Towsville to Gladstone as JG92 before departed Gladstone to Sydney on the scheduled JG71 RPT service.

File photo

VH-JGB then returned to Gladstone later on Thursday operating the scheduled JetGo JG78/79 service from and back to Sydney.

Meanwhile, VH-JZG had been operating Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights out of Townsville, departed there for Gladstone during the morning on Thursday 29 January as JG34.

VH-JZG brought Annastacia Palaszczuk and the following media to the industrial city to campaign ahead of the Queensland State Election this coming weekend.

VH-JZG then departed Gladstone for Brisbane as JG35, and was then noted operating another FIFO charter to Osborne Mine, onward to Townsville.

Photos taken by Col  ©

RFDS South Eastern Section B200 King Air VH-MWV Pops into Rockhampton Airport

A rare movement into Queensland, let alone Central Queensland, with Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) South Eastern Section Raytheon B200 King Air VH-MWV touching down at Rockhampton Airport late on Wednesday 28 January.  It arrived from Brisbane, having commenced its flying day at Melbourne (Essendon) and travelling via Tyabb and Dubbo.

VH-MWV stayed for the night and was captured parked on the local RFDS apron by local plane spotter 'IAD' early on Thursday 29 January.

VH-MWV departed mid-morning on Thursday for Dubbo.  It was planned to then flying on to Albury and Essendon.

Meanwhile, 'IAD' also captured some photos of the newly built RFDS facility adjacent to their hangar on the General Aviation (GA) side of Rockhampton Airport.

The new structure certainly looks nice and it shouldn't be too long before it is being used for patient transfers.

Thanks to 'IAD' for capturing and sending through photos of this great movement!

All photos taken by ‘IAD’  ©