Australian Army (Royal Australian Navy Marked) MRH-90 Helicopter A40-001 - Plus RAAF C-130J Hercules A97-442 - Pops into Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 31 May, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-001 was noted calling into Rockhampton Airport as "Destrier 114".  It appeared to fly in from Brisbane where it was spotted wearing Royal Australian Navy (RAN) titles.

A40-001 departs Brisbane

After taking on fuel, A40-001 departed Rockhampton Airport for Townsville, although it was heard to be using the different radio callsign of "Destrier 121".

It is interesting to note that the Army MRH-90s are now using three digits in their flight numbers and callsigns.

Meanwhile, during the late afternoon also on Thursday 31 May, yet another Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft was noted calling into Rockhampton Airport.  On this occasion, it was identified as A97-442 "Trojan 20" and looked to fly into Rocky from the South before it later departed to Townsville.

Finally, also noted flying into Townsville Airport on Thursday 31 May were three flights of RAAF 'classic' McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets.  They are expected to participate in the RAAF's Exercise High Sierra which is will kick off in the Townsville area next week.

Heard flying through inland parts of CQ - along with a pair of RAAF Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft - were "Hawkeye x5", "Hunter x3" and "Hipshot x4".

RAAF Hornets approach Townsville Airport

They are expected to be joined next week by RAAF British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 jet training aircraft, as well as the two Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft which departed Rockhampton Airport for Townsville yesterday - see Blog post below.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox and 'Shinpow16'  ©