Monday, February 29, 2016

A Possible Trio of Flight One (Archerfield) Charter and Training Aircraft at Longreach Airport

It was interesting to note that over the weekend it appeared that as many as three aircraft operated by Archerfield Airport-based Flight One Professional Charter and Flight Training services looked to fly into Longreach Airport at various times.


As shown above from their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Flight-One-262270403155/) it certainly appears that their Cirrus SR22 VH-FOH was at Longreach Airport over the weekend on what appeared to be a navigational exercise.

A well-known flight tracking website also indicates that Flight One's Beech B200 King Air VH-FON called into Longreach Airport on Monday 29 February.  It appears that VH-FON also called into Emerald Airport on Sunday 28 February before flying on to Mount Isa and Newcastle Waters in the Northern Territory.  VH-FON then returned to Archerfield on Monday.

Finally, Cessna 182 also of Flight One looked to possibly call into Longreach Airport on Saturday 27 February before departing to Roma.

To learn more about Flight One Professional Charter and Flight Training check out their website:  http://www.flightone.net.au/

Quest Kodiak 100 Turbo-prop N150KQ Touches Down at Hamilton Island Airport

As the sun was setting on Monday 29 February, an interesting aircraft in the form of Quest Kodiak 100 N150KQ touched down at Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns.



The Quest Kodiak is a high-wing, unpressurized, single-engine turboprop-powered fixed tricycle landing gear aircraft built by Quest Aircraft, a Japanese owned aircraft manufacturer based in the United States of America.  The Kodiak is described as a utilitarian air vehicle capable of carrying 10 or more persons, using aluminium construction, short-field capability, and good useful load.  Large contributors to the Kodiak's STOL performance are a fixed, discontinuous leading edge on the outboard wing and the high performance Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engine of 750 hp (559 kW).

Certainly a first for a Central Queensland Airport that I certainly know of!

Thanks to the fantastic FNQ Skies Blog for allowing us to use their great photos of N150KQ at Cairns Airport.

Photo taken by the FNQ Skies Blog  ©

Sunday, February 28, 2016

American Registered LearJet 36A Bizjet N82GG at Rockhampton Airport Again!

Making another surprise visit at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 27 February was American registered and privately operated LearJet 36A bizjet N82GG.


Local plane spotter Don W was at the right place at the right time and captured this great photo as it parked on the Rockhampton Airport General Aviation (GA) Apron.  It later departed to Sydney.

N82GG visited Rocky in October 2015 and it was noted that the LearJet has a camera on the forward-starboard side of the fuselage.  There are reports that the aircraft is operating aerial mapping sorties for Nearmap - the international provider of high resolution aerial imagery.

File photo

Meanwhile, another bizjet to call into Rockhampton Airport this week - Light Jets Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-TFW - departed to its Archerfield base on Friday 26 February.  It had arrived on Wednesday 24 February from Biloela/Thangool Airport where it arrived on Monday 22 February.

Thanks Don for capturing and sending through these great photos of a beaut little LearJet!

All photos taken by Don Williams  ©

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Virgin Australia E-190 Jet VH-ZPF at Gladstone Airport Saturday - And VH-ZPG Departs Australia For Good!

Spotted calling into Gladstone Airport on Saturday 27 February was Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 jet VH-ZPF.  As per most Saturdays, it operated the mid-morning VOZ1709/1712 service from and back to Brisbane.








Meanwhile, departing Brisbane, and Australia for the final time, also on Saturday 27 February, was Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPG which is ferrying to Nashville (Tennessee) via Apia (Tonga), Honolulu (Hawaii) and Van Nuys (California) in preparation for operations for Aero Mexico.

VH-ZPG departs Mackay in 2014  (File photo)

It was interesting to note that the final revenue service for VH-ZPG was the VOZ617/620 service from Brisbane to Mackay Airport and back late on Friday 26 February.

VH-ZPG is the second of five E-190s that Virgin Australia recently announced that would be withdrawn from service with VH-ZPD departing Australia in early February.  Refer to original Blog post HERE.

Photos taken by Col and 'AC'  ©

Friday, February 26, 2016

Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Bell 412 Helicopter VH-ESD Ferries North via Gladstone and Mackay Airports Friday

Making it a trio of Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue helicopters to ferry up and down the Queensland coast was Bell 412 helicopter VH-ESD which ferried North from Archerfield to Townsville via Gladstone and Mackay Airports on Friday 26 February.

https://www.facebook.com/rescue521queensland/

It looks like VH-ESD has been undergoing maintenance at the QGAir facility at Archerfield Airport and in fact operated a couple of med-evac flights around the South-East corner as "Rescue 500" before heading North.

VH-ESD joins fellow QGAir Bell 412EP helicopter VH-ESB which continues to operate out of Townsville Airport as "Rescue 521".

Thursday, February 25, 2016

RAAF Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 Pops into Proserpine and Rockhampton Airports Thursday

After flying North the previous day, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 flew back South on Thursday 25 February, calling into both Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then Rockhampton Airport where local plane spotter 'IAD' was on hand to capture some photos.





Again flying as "Envoy 48", the RAAF BBJ initially conducted a low overshoot of Rocky's Runway 15 before coming back around and landing.  It taxied in and parked on the Rockhampton Airport parking apron for some time before departing further to the South.







A36-002 was later noted at the Gold Coast and then further ports South.

Meanwhile, also calling into Rockhampton Airport on Thursday 25 February was RAAF Beech B300 Super King Air A32-439 which flew in from and later returned to Townsville flying as "Dingo 21".

Thanks to 'IAD' for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-PSU Calls into Longreach Airport

The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU called into Longreach Airport briefly on Thursday 25 February.

File photo

It touched down from Brisbane and Winton and later departed back to Winton and then Mount Isa where it looked to be spending the night.

Meanwhile, after around two weeks offline, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK has been back operating prisoner transfer flights up and down the Queensland coast this week.  It was noted operating on Monday 22 February and again on Wednesday 24 February.

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (South East Section) Beech B300 Super King Air VH-SQR Back at Gladstone Airport

Calling in yet again to Gladstone Airport early on Thursday 25 February was Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (South East Section) Beech B300 Super King Air VH-SQR.  The sleek Super King Air arrived from Moomba and Roma.

File photo taken by Col  ©

After spending the day on the ground in the port city, VH-SQR to Adelaide.

Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-EZJ Ferries South via Mackay and Gladstone Airports

After operating in and around Cairns for the last few months, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-EZJ has ferried South to Archerfield presumably for planned maintenance on Thursday 25 February.  It was noted passing through Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone Airports while on its trip South.

File photo

VH-EZJ ferried South the day after fellow Agusta AW139 VH-ESZ ferried North to Cairns from Archerfield also via Gladstone and Mackay following a period of maintenance.

As reported previously, QGAir rescue helicopters ferry North and South through Central Queensland as a part of a 'rotational system', reportedly designed to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of their helicopters, thus avoiding the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

Careflight Queensland (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" at Mackay Airport Early Thursday

Noted making an early departure from Mackay Airport on Thursday 25 February was Careflight Queensland (Aeromed) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR.

VH-URR arrives at Darwin Airport recently

A well known flight tracking website suggests that VH-URR departed its Brisbane base around 2.30am to make the pre-dawn med-evac transfer from Mackay.

It was also noted that the Challenger 604 was using its assigned Careflight radio callsign of "Ambulance 604".

Photo taken by Sid Mitchell  ©

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

RAAF Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 Pops into Bundaberg and Hamilton Island Airports Wednesday

A nice visitor captured at Hamilton Island Airport on Wednesday 24 February was Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002.












It appears that the RAAF BBJ may have been on a training flight with it arriving at Hamo after earlier visiting Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour Airports.  After taking on fuel, A36-002 departed Hamilton Island for Townsville.

A36-002 was noted using the radio callsign of "Envoy 48".

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 24 February, RAAF Beech B300 Super King Air A32-439 was noted operating several circuits and then landing at Mackay Airport as "Dingo 33".  It later flew into Townsville.

Thanks to 'AC' on Hamilton Island for capturing these great photos - even when a tropical rain shower blew through!

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

QGAir Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-ESZ Ferries North via Gladstone and Mackay Airports

Presumably after a period of maintenance, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESZ has taken to the air and ferried North from Archerfield to Cairns via Gladstone and Mackay Airports on Wednesday 24 February.

VH-ESZ at Mackay last year  (File photo taken by 'AC'  ©)

It will be interesting to see if another QGAir Rescue helicopter ferries South in the coming days as a part of the 'rotational system' the service utilised to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of the QGAir Rescue helicopters.  This system avoids the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

Finally, it has been interesting to note that QGAir Rescue Bell 412EP VH-ESB has called into Bowen, Mackay and Proserpine Hospital heli-pad in recent weeks while operating out of Townsville as "Rescue 521".

Light Jets Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 Bizjet VH-TFW Back at CQ Airports

Light Jets Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-TFW has again popped into Central Queensland, touching down at Biloela / Thangool Airport on Monday 22 February from its Archerfield base.

VH-TFW at Rocky on a previous visit  (File photo taken by Paul Tyler  ©)

On Wednesday 24 February, VH-TFW flew up from Bilo to Rockhampton early in the morning, and at the time of writing, remains parked on the Rocky General Aviation (GA) Apron.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

New Textron Aviation (Hawker Beechcraft) B300 Super King Air N136KF Passes Through Longreach Airport

This post has been edited...

Reportedly in Australia to operate a series of demonstration flights is new production Textron Aviation (Hawker Beechcraft) B300 Super King Air N136KF (c/n FL-1036).  On Tuesday 23 February, it was noted passing through Longreach Airport for Brisbane after earlier departing from Darwin in the Northern Territory.



I've been advised that the Super King Air is a Proline Fusion (touch screen) equipped demonstration aircraft - as shown in the cockpit photo below.


The Super King Air had arrived in Darwin from overseas late last week and was photographed by local plane spotter Sid M shortly after its arrival.

Thanks mate!

Photos taken by Sid Mitchell and 'AC'  ©

RAAF Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-001 Missed Approaches at Rockhampton Airport

It was interesting to note that Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-001 performed missed approaches at Rockhampton late on Sunday 21 February and then again mid-afternoon on Monday 22 February.

A39-001 on a previous visit to Rocky  (File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©)

On both occasions it looked to fly up from and then return to RAAF Base Amberley.  On Monday it flew as "Dragon 17", while on Monday it flew as "Dragon 20".

Monday, February 22, 2016

Whitsunday Air Services Takes Delivery of a Pair of DHC-2 Beaver Float Planes VH-OHU and VH-OHD


It was interesting to note that in late 2015, Whitsunday Air Services / Hamilton Island Air took delivery of a pair of De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver float planes from the United States of America (USA).


The first Beaver to break cover was VH-OHU (c/n 826) which was spotted wearing an attractive colour scheme for the 'One&Only' resort at Hayman Island.


VH-OHU has had an interesting history with the airframe first delivered to the US Army in 1955.  After a series of re-registrations and two accidents in 1987 and 1999, the Beaver has most recently been operating in Bear, Delaware as N88G, before being de-registered and exported to Australia in mid-2015.

David Lednicer / http://www.dhc-2.com/

It was noted in a crate at the Chrisair maintenance facility at Mackay Airport in late 2015 before being re-built and then taking to the air and commencing operations out of Hamilton Island Airport shortly after.

The other Beaver is (to be) registered VH-OHD (c/n 1590) and has yet to be seen around the Whitsundays.  This slightly younger Beaver first flew in 1965 and was operated by Field Air and then Float-Air Picton in New Zealand before being re-built by Wrightair at Tauranga in New Zealand.  It wore the New Zealand registration marking of ZK-CMU.

Dirk Septer / http://www.dhc-2.com/

It operated in New Zealand until the mid-1990s when it was exported to the USA.  It then operated as N97FW for Barnstormer Classic Aviation Inc at Fairfield, Connecticut until mid-2015 when it too was dismantled and exported to Australia.  It was also noted in a crate at the Chrisair maintenance facility at Mackay Airport in late December awaiting re-build.

Of interest, Whitsunday Air Services / Hamilton Island Air also operates DHC-2 Beaver float plane VH-ZDA (c/n 803) which too has had an interesting history following its initial delivery to the US Army in 1955.  It joined the Whitsunday Air Services / Hamilton Island Air fleet at Hamilton Island Airport in late 2010 after previously wearing the registration of N317DH in the USA.


For this post I referred to the fantastic website devoted to the classic de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver - http://www.dhc-2.com/ - which incidentally features a great photo of VH-OHU as its cover photo!

Chris Roughan / http://www.dhc-2.com/

The website is chock-full of fascinating information and photographs of pretty much every DHC-2 Beaver ever built.  Well worth checking out!

Additional photos taken by 'AC'  ©