RAAF Canadair Challenger 604 Bizjet A37-001 Calls into Rockhampton and Mackay Airports

Late on Wednesday 30 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet A37-001 was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport as "Consort 35" direct from Canberra.

After spending the night, A37-001 departed for Mackay Airport early on Thursday 31 August.

It was later noted flying into Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Friday 1 September, A37-001 "Consort 35" was noted returning to Canberra from the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 29 August, RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air A32-437 flying as "Dingo 26" looked to arrive from Townsville and then completed four circuits with touch-and-go's at Rockhampton Airport before it returned towards the North.

 

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C A30-006 Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

Almost two weeks after it did the same, on Wednesday 30 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-006 was back in CQ and again completed a low overshoot (missed approach) at Rockhampton Airport.

On this occasion, A30-006 was flying as "Wedgetail 04" and flew up to Rockhampton from the South.  After completing the airwork, the Wedgetail departed towards the South and was later noted completing a missed approach at RAAF Base Amberley before it returned to RAAF Base Williamtown.

Sincere thanks once again to local plane spotters Scott H and Kayanne H for again taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Scott Harris and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Pops into Emerald Airport Again!

Around a month after its last visit, on Tuesday 29 August, Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was noted visiting Emerald Airport.  It once again arrived directly from its Sunshine Coast base.

File photo

After staying for the night, on Wednesday 30 August, VH-MMC departed Emerald Airport and returned to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, as I write this post, on Thursday 31 August, Brenzil's Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW is expected to return to CQ once again with it planned to arrive into Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane before later departing to Sydney.  It has just spent around a week parked at Mackay Airport - see Blog post below!

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

A Few Lighties at Fraser Coast Airports incl Partenavia P.68B VH-PNU Diverting to Maryborough Airport with Engine Troubles

Over the last couple of days, there has been an interesting variety of light General Aviation (GA) aircraft noted calling into Fraser Coast Airports, in particular, Bundaberg Airport.

On Monday 28 August, Brisbane-registered Partenavia P.68B VH-PNU arrived into Bundaberg Airport from Archerfield - where it seems to be presently based.

VH-PNU at Archerfield Airport in 2015 undergoing maintenance  (File photo)

On departure from Bundy on its return to Archerfield however, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and turned back and landed at Maryborough Airport.  It was only on the ground for a short time and problem was quickly rectified with VH-PNU noted a short time later back in the air and heading once again 'home' to Archerfield.

On Sunday 27 August, Privately owned Cirrus Design Corp SR22 G6 Australis Premium N436RP - which is currently being operated by Cirrus Aircraft Australia & New Zealand on various demonstration events around Australia - called into Bundaberg Airport from Townsville on the latest destination on the tour.  It has also recently called into Rockhampton and Mackay Airports.

N436RP on display at Mackay Airport recently  (https://www.facebook.com/cirrusaircraftaunz/)

After several hours on the ground, N436RP departed to Caloundra and the Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport in northern New South Wales.

Finally, on Saturday 26 August, an interesting quartet of lighties were noted passing through Bundaberg Airport including General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) AeroCommander 681 VH-NBT, Airlines of Tasmania Cessna 404 VH-WZM, Bayswater Road / Australian Aerial Mapping (AAM) Cessna 404 VH-LAV and Seair Pacific (Istlecote) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQW which was noted completing a return flight to the nearby Lady Elliott Island.

Beijing Capital Airlines (China) Gulfstream G650 Bizjet B-3255 Spotted at Roma Airport

A nice corporate bizjet to pop into CQ - well the South-Western part of CQ - on Tuesday 29 August was Beijing Capital Airlines (China) Gulfstream G650 bizjet B-3255.  It is shown below on the Roma Airport ramp preparing for departure back to Brisbane from where it arrived earlier in the day.

Prior to this, B-3255 arrived into the Queensland capital from Hong Kong, completing an eight hour plus flight through the night.

Of interest, B-3255 was the first Gulfstream G650 bizjet to be registered on the Chinese mainland B- registry.  It was only delivered to Tianjin in China in May this year.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 30 August, B-3255 departed Brisbane and returned to Hong Kong.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Ken D for taking the time to capture and send through this great photo of a great visitor to Roma Airport!

Photo taken by Ken Dawes  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2017 - Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache Helicopters Also Start Test Flights from Rockhampton Airport as "Astro" and "Atom"

On Tuesday 29 August, two of the four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters were spotted completing test flights out of and back to Rockhampton Airport in preparation for The Singapore Armed Force's Military Exercise Wallaby 2017 which is expected to officially kick off later this week on Thursday 31 August.

Local plane spotters Scott H and Kayanne H were on hand at Rockhampton Airport and captured Apache '063' departing and later returning as "Atom", along with '058' arriving back into Rockhampton Airport as "Astro".

The Apaches have now joined the RSAF Boeing CH-47SD Chinook helicopters in completing test flights ahead of their participating in Exercise Wallaby.

Of interest, the Apache helicopters are flown by the RSAF's 120 Squadron "Kestrel" (also known as the "Red Hawks") based at the Sembawang Air Base (SBAB) in Singapore.  The Squadron is the first and oldest RSAF operational squadron in service, first formed in 1969.

The squadron goes by the motto of "Strive To Achieve".

Sincere thanks to Scott and Kayanne for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Scott Harris and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2017 - Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130H Hercules Transport Aircraft 730 Also Arrives at Rockhampton Airport

Also on Tuesday 29 August, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130H Hercules '730' was spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Darwin as "Singa 9783".

It had arrived into Darwin the previous day from Singapore.

The Herc taxied in and parked on the Northern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron where it was promptly unloaded.  It appeared to be staying for at least the night.

Reports suggest that at least one RSAF Herc will be based at Rocky during the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2017.

Meanwhile, as the RSAF Herc '730' departed Darwin for Rockhampton Airport, also departing the 'Top End' on Tuesday 29 August, but destined for RAAF Base Amberley while enroute to a deployment to New Zealand, was six RSAF General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16D Block 52 Version Fighting Falcon jets, flying in company with a pair of other RSAF Hercs and an RSAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft.

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

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2017 - Six Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) AS332M Super Puma Helicopters Arrive at Rockhampton Airport as "Diamond" and "Ruby"

The build-up to the start of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2017 is pretty much complete with the final airborne participants in the Exercise making a spectacular arrival into Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 29 August.

Six Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Aerospatiale / Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma helicopters were spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from their home at Oakey in two flights of four then two.

Local plane spotters Scott H and Kayanne H were at Rockhampton Airport to capture their arrival.  They were also able identify and confirm that the first flight of four Super Pumas, which touched down as "Diamond", wore the serial numbers 276, 292, 293 and 220.

While the second flight of two Super Pumas, which touched down as "Ruby", wore the serial numbers 272 and 296.

Of interest, the Super Puma helicopters are flown by the RSAF's 126 Helicopter Squadron "Cougar" (126 SQN).  Their motto is "Ready and Able", with the Cougar adopted as the squadron's motif.

Formed initially on 16 September 1992 at Sembawang Air Base in Singapore, the 126 SQN consisted of newly purchased Cougar helicopters, which were an upgraded version of the Super Puma helicopters then used by its sister squadron – 125 SQN. 126 Squadron is based at Oakey Airbase, supporting the Singapore Armed Force's training needs in Australia.

Sincere thanks to Scott and Kayanne for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Scott Harris and Kayanne Hardsman  ©