Exercise Wallaby 2016 - Third Wave of Heavy Jet Charters into Rockhampton Airport - Air New Zealand B787-9 Dreamliners ZK-NZF & ZK-NZJ Touch Down

Late on Friday 21 October, the third of four 'waves' of heavy jet passenger charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2016 kicked off with a pair of Air New Zealand Boeing B787-9 Dreamliners calling into Rockhampton Airport direct from Singapore's Changi Airport.

The first of the two Dreamliners to call in was ZK-NZF.  It touched down as ANZ1927 from Singapore and was photographed by local plane spotter Kayanne H as it pulled onto Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport apron. It had earlier positioned into Singapore from Auckland as ANZ6000.

After unloading and then loading a full load of passengers and cargo, ZK-NZF departed back to Singapore as ANZ1928.

At the time of writing, fellow Dreamliner ZK-NZJ is winging its way to Rockhampton Airport as ANZ1933.  It too had earlier positioned into Singapore from Auckland as ANZ6002.

ZK-NZJ famously visited Rocky during the previous second 'wave' of Air New Zealand charter flights and sustained minor damage due to bat strike.

It too will return to Singapore with a full load of passengers and cargo.

Both ZK-NZF and ZK-NZJ will return to Rockhampton Airport late on Saturday 22 October, with one of the two returning yet again on Sunday 23 October.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©