Exercise Wallaby 2016 - The Flying Program for the RSAF Boeing F-15SG "Shikra" Strike Eagles from Rockhampton Airport Comes to a Close - Plus Great Photos of RSAF AH-64D Apache Helicopters at 'Warriors Camp'

It is believed that on Thursday 29 September, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing F-15SG 'Shikra' Strike Eagles of 149 Squadron out of Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore flew their final sorties out of Rockhampton Airport to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) during the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2016.

Townsville photographer Ian H ventured back to Rockhampton Airport in the early evening on Wednesday 28 September and again very kindly allows to share some of his stunning images from the final nighttime departures of the F-15s.

Meanwhile, a little earlier on Wednesday 28 September, Ian was also at the right place at the right time to capture some equally stunning photos as a pair of the RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters departed from 'Warriors Camp' to Shoalwater Bay.

As we've mentioned previously, the RSAF has re-named the Australian Army Defence Support Group (DSG) 'Camp Rocky', which is adjacent to Rockhampton Airport, as 'Warriors Camp' while they utilise the facility to launch and park their helicopters.

Sincere thanks to Ian H for his support during his visit to Rockhampton and for allowing us to share his amazing photos!

Check out Ian's Instagram account (@hitchy38) where he has posted these and more stunning aviation and other photos!

All photos taken by Ian Hitchcock  ©

ACM Air Charter Boeing B737-8LX(BBJ2) VP-BBZ Calls into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus a Few Other Bizjet Movements!

During a busy couple of weeks of bizjet movements, on Thursday 29 September, perhaps the most spectacular arrival into Hamilton Island Airport in the form of ACM Air Charter Boeing B737-8LX(BBJ2) VP-BBZ touched down from Sydney as "BVR001".

Bernd Weber / http://flightaware.com/

It looks to be spending at least the night.

But there were also a few more bizjet movements in and out of Hamilton Island Airport on Thursday 29 September which included Shortstop Jet Charter British Aerospace BAe-125-1000B VH-LMP departing back to Melbourne (Essendon).  It had arrived from there on Sunday 25 September.

GSA Industries Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 601 VH-NSB arrived from and later departed back to the Gold Coast.

Also visiting from the Gold Coast was the Sundown Pastoral Company (of Bonogin in the Gold Coast Hinterland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NSI.

While a week after arrived at Hamo and then Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airports, MWP Racing Bombardier CL-600-2A12 Challenger 601 VH-MXK returned to Hamo from Prosie and then departed to the Gold Coast and then Sydney.

One final movement on Thursday 29 September was by Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express VH-VGX which flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane before it departed to its Melbourne (Essendon) base.

On Wednesday 28 September, Sundyne (Execujet Australia) Cessna 650 Citation VII VH-SSZ is scheduled to call into Hamilton Island Airport from Sydney early on Tuesday 27 September.

On the lighter side of movements, it has also been interesting to note that Regional Air Piper PA-31-350 VH-RKD has operated a couple of charter flights into Hamilton Island Airport from and back to its Mackay Airport base.  While Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron VH-EZD called into Hamo from its Monto base on Wednesday 28 September.

And after departing its Mackay Airport base a fortnight ago, locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ returned home to Mackay from Alice Springs on Thursday 29 September.  It has also been noted visiting Ayres Rock in the 'red centre' of Australia this week as well.

Finally, on Thursday 29 September, Light Jets Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-TFW was noted visiting Biloela / Thangool Airport from its Archerfield base. 

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules A97-467 Completes Airwork at Mackay Airport

On Thursday 29 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules A97-467 was spotted completing airwork around Mackay Airport - including an overshoot and a pair of touch-and-go's.

At the completion of its airwork, the Herc which is from the RAAF's 37 Squadron out of RAAF Base Richmond departed for Townsville.  A97-467 was noted using the radio callsign of "Ausy 734".

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2016 - The Airborne Action Ramps up with Multiple RSAF Sorties from Rockhampton Airport and 'Warriors Camp'

It certainly has been a busy few days in the skies over Rockhampton this week with multiple sorties by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) helicopters and F-15SG Strike Eagles to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in support of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2016.

The RSAF Boeing F-15SG 'Shikra' Strike Eagles continue to fly sorties late morning, afternoon and evening using radio callsigns "Shikra", "Eagle" and "Top Gun".  It is believed that their final sorties will be flown on Thursday 29 September.

RSAF Aerospatiale / Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma helicopters continue to fly from Rockhampton Airport to Shoalwater Bay also during the day as singles (using the callsign "Starling") or at night in formation (using the callsign "Diamond").

While both RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache and Boeing CH-47SD Chinook helicopters also continue to operate daytime and nighttime sorties to Shoalwater Bay from and back to the Australian Army Defence Support Group (DSG) 'Camp Rocky' which is adjacent to Rockhampton Airport.  The RSAF has re-named the DSG as 'Warriors Camp' while they utilise the facility to launch and park their helicopters.

The Apaches have been heard using the callsigns "Astro" and "Atom", while the Chinooks continue to use the callsign "Cyclops" with the occasional flight as "Celtic".

Finally, the RSAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules '733' has continued flying sorties to Shoalwater Bay, delivering troops and equipment to Shoalwater Bay using radio callsign "Rider".

Sincere thanks to Jason from J.M Photography for allowing us to share his awesome images from Exercise Wallaby 2016.  Do check out more of his work at his Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/photographybyjasonm/

All photos taken by J.M Photography  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2016 - And Yet More Spectacular Photos as RSAF Boeing F-15SG "Shikra" Strike Eagles Fly Final Nighttime Sorties from Rockhampton Airport

It is believed that on Wednesday 28 September, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing F-15SG 'Shikra' Strike Eagles of 149 Squadron out of Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore flew their final nighttime sorties out of Rockhampton Airport to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) during the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2016.

Townsville photographer Ian H ventured back to Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 27 September and again very kindly allows to share some of his stunning images from both the daytime and nighttime departures of the F-15s.

It is believed that the final sorties to be flown by the RSAF F-15s during Exercise Wallaby 2016 will be on Thursday 29 September (subject to change).

I think you'll agree that Ian's photos are quite spectacular!

Check out Ian's Instagram account (@hitchy38) where he has posted these and more stunning aviation and other photos!

All photos taken by Ian Hitchcock  ©

LifeFlight (ex Careflight Queensland) LearJet 45 VH-CXJ "Ambulance 452" Calls into Mackay Airport

Making what appeared to be a late afternoon med-evac flight into Mackay Airport on Wednesday 28 September was LifeFlight (ex Careflight Queensland) (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-CXJ "Ambulance 452".

File photo taken by 'AC'  ©

It flew into Mackay from its Townsville base and returned to Townsville after around 90 minutes on the ground.

A Nice Pair of Cessna Citation Bizjets Call into Longreach Airport - And More!

On Wednesday 28 September, a nice pair of Cessna Citation bizjets were noted calling into Longreach Airport.

Firstly, the familiar sight of Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-KXM called into Longreach Airport once again.  It arrived from Bankstown, took on fuel, and later departed to Vanrook Station in Far North Queensland.

A little later, Earth Commodities Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ was spotted (above) on the ground at Longreach Airport.  It called in from its Brisbane base and looks to be staying for at least the night.

Meanwhile, a couple of interesting light General Aviation (GA) aircraft have also been noted calling into Longreach Airport over recent days including Georgetown-based Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu VH-TPM which called in from Toowoomba also on Wednesday 28 September.  It later departed to Cloncurry.

Back on Saturday 24 September, Interair Piper PA-31 VH-FHJ called into Longreach from its Melbourne (Essendon) base and Bourke.  It later departed to Cairns where it now looks to be completing a series of aerial survey flights.

Finally, across at Emerald Airport, also on Saturday 24 September, Cessna 208 Caravan VH-WDE popped in from Tully and continued South, while on Monday 26 September, Sydney Skydivers Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL VH-XLC was due to pass through Emerald Airport while heading North from Wilton (New South Wales) to Innisfail.  It however looked to call into Roma and Bowen before reaching Innisfail Tuesday 27 September where is has since commenced parachuting operations.

Photo taken by Phil Daws  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2016 - Yet More Spectacular Nighttime Photos of RSAF Boeing F-15SG "Shikra" Strike Eagles Flying Sorties from Rockhampton Airport

Local plane spotter Daniel B has been at Rockhampton Airport most evenings of late, capturing some great photos and video as the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing F-15SG “Shikra” Strike Eagles depart on their evening sorties to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as a part of the continuing Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2016.

In this post, we present some of his spectacular photos captured on both Monday 26 September and Tuesday 27 September.

Sadly for the local plane spotters and enthusiasts, information suggests that Wednesday 28 September could be the last time that the F-15s take to the air in the early evening darkness - and moreover that on their final day of flying will be on Thursday 29 September.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for the latest updates!

Sincere thanks to Daniel B for taking the time to capture and send through his great photos!

All photos taken by Daniel Bishop  ©