Preparations at Rockhampton Airport for the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2016 - 3x Antonov AN-124s - Air New Zealand B787 Dreamliners

Preparations are beginning around Rockhampton Airport for the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2016, which is scheduled to take place around the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) from Thursday 15 September to Monday 7 November.

As usual, there will be a significant deployment and redeployment of personnel and equipment taking place before, during and after the Exercise through Rockhampton Airport.  This will be highlighted by multiple visits by the giant Antonov AN-124 cargo jet with as many as three inbound flights already being rumoured to be touching down in the first few days of September.

There will also be several heavy jet passenger charter flights with information suggesting that these will be operated by Air New Zealand with Boeing B777-200 and Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner widebody twin-engine jets.

The highly anticipated first ever visit by the Air New Zealand Dreamliner aircraft to Rockhampton Airport will certainly be a highlight.

As we've reported previously, recently released AirServices Australia and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) documents indicate that Exercise Wallaby 2016 will see the participation of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagle fighter jets.

During the Exercise, it is expected that participating aircraft - including the F-15SGs, as well as Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and military helicopters including Boeing CH-47SD Chinooks, Boeing AH-64D Apache and Aerospatiale / Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma helicopters - will operate from both Rockhampton Airport and from within the Exercise area.

Stay tuned to the Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog Facebook Page or Twitter Feed for the latest news and movements associated with Exercise Wallaby 2016.