Pel-Air SAAB Freighter Broken Down - RAAF C-17 Globemaster - Bizjets - All At Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 5 March, local plane spotter 'IAD' captured an iPhone photo of the rare sight of Pel-Air SAAB 340A Freighter VH-EKT parked at Rockhampton in daylight hours!

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

It appears as though it had operated to Mackay from Brisbane via Rocky, as scheduled, early on Wednesday 4 March as PFY7116/7118, before returning later that night from Mackay as PFY7115.  At Rocky, it appears as though VH-EKT broke down.  It departed Rockhampton for Brisbane later on Thursday 5 March as PFY9801.

Of interest, fellow SAAB 340A Freighter VH-KDK replaced VH-EKT early on Thursday 5 March, operating to Mackay from Brisbane, via Rockhampton.

Also on Thursday 5 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-209 was noted performing airwork around Rockhampton Airport, flying as "Stallion 37".  It was later heard flying around Maryborough Airport.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 4 March, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY called into Rockhampton once again from Brisbane.  Interestingly, the next day on Thursday 5 March, the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was again noted arriving into Rockhampton, but on board a commercial flight operated by Virgin Australia!

On Friday 6 March, Light Jets Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-TFW called into Rockhampton Airport for part of the day from Archerfield.  This lovely photo below was posted on the Light Jets Australia Facebook page showing the little Citation basking in the Central Queensland sunshine as it waited for its passengers to return.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Light-Jets-Australia/

Also on Friday 6 March, a frequent visitor to CQ in the form of Cessna 208 Caravan VH-DJG called into Rockhampton from its 'Natal Downs' property briefly before continuing South the Archerfield.