Federal Election Campaign Rolls Through CQ Airports Yet Again - G-IV VH-MBP - RAAF BBJ A36-001 - Alliance F-70 VH-QQV - RAAF King Air A32-671

A busy day for CQ Airports on Sunday 12 June with multiple visits by Federal politicians on the hustings during this ongoing Federal Election campaign.

The first visitor to CQ on Sunday 12 June was the Marcplan Charter Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) bizjet VH-MBP which touched down at Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane as "Envoy 29".  The Gulfstream is clearly still being utilised to ferry politicians around Australia.

File photo

After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-MBP departed across the country direct to Kununurra in Western Australia.  Of interest, it was originally planned to fly to Broome but changed plans during the morning.

UPDATE!  Late on Monday 13 June, VH-MBP returned to Rockhampton Airport flying in directly back from Kununurra again as "Envoy 29".

Later on Sunday 12 June, Federal Labor Party leader Bill Shorten made what was described as a "surprise" visit to Gladstone.  He was on board Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) bizjet A36-001 which flew into Gladstone Airport direct from Townsville as "Envoy 33".

After a couple of hours on the ground, and after Mr Shorten had made yet another policy announcement, A36-001 departed Gladstone Airport Sydney again as "Envoy 33".

Joining the RAAF BBJ at Gladstone Airport was Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-QQV which was carrying the media press pack that is flying with Mr Shorten.  VH-QQV also flew into Gladstone Airport from Townsville but as "Envoy 17".

Of interest, VH-QQV and fellow Alliance F-70 VH-JFB continue to ferry the media around with Mr Shorten and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull respectively.

VH-QQV also departed Gladstone Airport for Sydney again as "Envoy 17".

Later still on Sunday 12 June, RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air A32-671 was noted touching down at Mackay Airport as "Envoy 24" from Gympie.  It had earlier flown North into Gympie from Canberra and Tamworth.

Finally, while not in CQ, also on Sunday 12 June, Prime Minister Turnbull was noted arriving into Townsville from Sydney on board RAAF Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 "Envoy 25", closely followed by the Alliance Airlines F-70 VH-JFB "Envoy 26".

Certainly a busy day!

Thanks to local plane spotter Michael F for sending through his great photos from Gladstone Airport!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Michael Fleetwood  ©