A Few More Photos from Gladstone Airport This Week - Helicopters Galore!

It's been a big and busy week for residents and emergency services around Gladstone and out to the region around Biloela / Thangool in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Marcia.  As a result, several helicopters have been spotted operating out of both Rockhampton and Gladstone Airports during the week - in this post local plane spotters Jamie and Tash share some of their images from Gladstone Airport.

The locally-based Careflight Bell 412EP VH-XCY made several flights between Gladstone and Biloela / Thangool Airport, carrying police and emergency services workers out to the region.

Helicopters that were utilised by Ergon Energy that were involved with power line inspections over the week included Jayrow Helicopters Bell 206B VH-CLV and Theodore-based Stirling Helicopters (Stirling Consolidated) Bell 206B (II) VH-JAQ.

Also assisting with the clean-up was M.I. Helicopters Eurocopter AS.355F2 VH-JZX along with Mackay-based Whitsunday Helicopters' Agusta A109E Power VH-KZD.

Calibre Aviation (of Emerald) Aerospatiale AS.350BA VH-WEB was also captured.

And finally, a pair of media choppers were spotted by Jamie and Tash over the week, including Channel 9 (Queensland Television) Eurocopter AS.350B Squirrel helicopter VH-HTV and The Helicopter Service Australia (THS) Aerospatiale AS.350BA Squirrel helicopter VH-THJ which is flying for ABC Television.

Of interest, both VH-THJ (c/n 1759) and VH-WEB (c/n 1743) were both once a part of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a part of the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU).  They wore the military serial numbers of A22-006 and A22-012 respectively.

Aside from the helicopters, a couple of nice bizjets called into Gladstone Airport this week, including Marcplan Charter Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy VH-VLT on Wednesday 25 February.

Earth Commodities Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ was also noted at Gladstone Airport on Thursday 26 February.

Finally, light General Aviation (GA) visitors featured the visit by Avcair (Sutherland Aviation) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-WXC on Wednesday 25 February, while on Tuesday 24 February, Seair Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LMZ made a surprise visit for fuel before departing to the South.

A great week of plane spotting at Gladstone Airport - although this was brought about by a rather unfortunate circumstance.  We do hope that the recovery from Cyclone Marcia continues well for all those that have been affected.

Sincere thanks to Jamie and Tash for sending through these fantastic photos!

Photos taken by Jamie and Tash  ©