Exercise Wallaby 2018 - New Royal Brunei Airlines Airbus A320-251N 'neo' V8-RBC Returns to Rockhampton Airport - Plus More Photos from Its 'First Visit' on Tuesday

On Wednesday 31 October, the Royal Brunei Airlines Airbus A320-251N 'neo' V8-RBC called back into Rockhampton Airport, again arriving from Singapore's Changi Airport via Darwin as RBA4271.  It again was parked nose-in on Gate 5B on the southern end of the parking apron.

This is the second day in-a-row that V8-RBC has visited Rockhampton Airport after its historic 'first visit' arrival on Tuesday 30 October.  Local plane spotters 'IAD' and Jaxson W were also on hand and captured some more great photos of its arrival and as it sat under the lights on Tuesday night as it prepared for departure.

V8-RBC was loaded with a full flight of passengers and their bags - although reports suggest some bags had to be off-loaded - before it departed Rockhampton Airport directly back to Singapore as RBA4272.  It is planned to do the same with a late departure after dark on Wednesday 31 October.

The third 'wave' of (heavy) jet charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2018 looks to continue on Thursday 1 November with an early morning arrival of a Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner with information suggesting that it will be V8-DLE which visited Rocky during the previous 'wave' of charter flights.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Scott H, 'IAD' and Jaxson W for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Scott Harris, 'IAD' and Jaxson White  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2018 - New Royal Brunei Airlines Airbus A320-251N 'neo' V8-RBC Arrives into Rockhampton Airport as Third Wave of Troop Charters Begin

A historic day for CQ Plane Spotters on Tuesday 30 October with new Royal Brunei Airlines Airbus A320-251N 'neo' V8-RBC touching down at Rockhampton Airport.  It is the first ever visit by the new Airbus A320N 'neo' into Central Queensland and into Queensland!

Its arrival into Rocky possibly marks the start of the third 'wave' of (heavy) jet charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2018.  On this occasion, V8-RBC touched down at Rockhampton Airport from Singapore's Changi Airport via Darwin as RBA4271.  

After landing, it parked nose-in on Gate 5B on the southern end of the parking apron. 

As mentioned, the arrival of V8-RBC is somewhat historic being the first time an Airbus A320N 'neo' aircraft has touched down in Central Queensland - and possibly Queensland! 

The Airbus A320N 'neo' family ('neo' for 'new engine option') is a development of the A320 family of narrow-body airliners produced by Airbus.  The 'neo' was launched in 2010 and was introduced in early 2016.  V8-RBC (msn 8360) is a fairly recent acquisition for Royal Brunei having being delivered to the airline in late July this year.  It is powered by the 're-engined' option of CFM International LEAP-1A26 engines and also features Airbus's blended 'sharklet' winglets.

V8-RBC looked to unload and then later re-load full flights of passengers and bags. It was noted departing directly back to Singapore after dark as RBA4272.

At the time of writing, it appears that V8-RBC will return to Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 31 October, around the same time of 3pm, again flying from Singapore via Darwin.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Scott H, Trevor H and Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great 'historic' first photos!

Photos and video taken by Scott Harris, Trevor Hardsman and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-001 Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 30 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-001 was noted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It had flown up to Rocky from Canberra via a missed approach at the Sunshine Coast.

File photo

After completing the airwork, A36-001 departed Rocky for Tamworth in New South Wales before it then returned to Canberra.

The BBJ was heard to flying as "Envoy 44".

Meanwhile, a smaller RAAF aircraft in the form of Beech B350 Super King Air A32-339 was also noted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport also on Tuesday 30 October.  The Super King Air was flying as "Hudson 22" and came down from Townsville to Rocky.  It then continued to the Gold Coast and ports further.

Photo taken by Daniel Bishop  ©

A Few Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation SAAB 340B and Cessna 441 Conquest Movements Around CQ Airports

Over the last couple of days, there were many and varied Corporate Air  / Vee H Aviation aircraft coming and going at various Central Queensland Airports - including one overnight diversion!

Early on Monday 29 October, Cessna 441 VH-VEJ was noted landing at Clermont Aerodrome from Brisbane.  It then went to Townsville before returning back to Clermont Aerodrome later in the day.  It then returned to Brisbane, possibly via Emerald Airport.

Fellow Cessna 441 VH-VEY was noted completing a return flight to Middlemount Aerodrome from and back to Brisbane.

Metro 23s VH-VET and VH-VEU were noted operating the morning and afternoon regular passenger transport (RPT) flight from Brisbane to Biloela / Thangool Airport and back.

SAAB 340B VH-VEF was perhaps the most interesting movement, flying North from Brisbane bound for Moranbah Airport on a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight.  Due to storms in the area, it was forced to divert to Clermont Aerodrome where it looked to stay for the night.

File photo

While fellow SAAB 340Bs VH-VEP completed a flight into Roma Airport from and back to Brisbane.

Then early on Tuesday 30 October, VH-VEF departed Clermont Aerodrome for Moranbah Airport before returning to Brisbane.  VH-VEF, along with Cessna 441 VH-VEY then both flew into Moranbah Airport later in the day also from Brisbane.  Both later returned to the capital.

While Metro 23 VH-VEU was noted yet again completing the daily RPT flight from Brisbane to Biloela / Thangool Airport and back.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

And Brisbane-based Cessna 525A CitationJet2 Bizjet VH-MOR Pops into Longreach Airport - Twice!

One corporate bizjet movement on Sunday 28 October that we missed was Brisbane-based Cessna 525A CitationJet2 bizjet VH-MOR which popped into Longreach Airport.  It made an early morning arrival from its Archerfield base and it returned there in the early afternoon.  VH-MOR then flew to Melbourne (Essendon) before finishing the day at Melbourne (Avalon) Airport.

VH-MOR at Rockhampton Airport recently  (File photo)

Then on Monday 29 October, VH-MOR returned to Longreach Airport, arriving from Avalon via Brisbane.  It departed to Archerfield a short time later.

Meanwhile, ferrying through Longreach Airport also on Sunday 28 October was AirServices Australia / Pearl Aviation Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-FIY "ADA 3".  It flew in from Darwin and departed to Brisbane.

VH-FIY had flown up to RAAF Base Tindal at Katherine also via Longreach Airport but on Wednesday 24 October.

Finally, ferrying through Emerald Airport on Saturday 27 October was Torres Strait Air Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander VH-TRS.  It arrived from Mareeba and later departed to Archerfield where it will undergo planned maintenance.

Photo taken by Russell Prothero  ©

Avcair (Earth Commodities) Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-CCJ Back at CQ Airports Yet Again

It’s been a couple months months between visits, but on Monday 29 October, Avcair (Earth Commodities) Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ was back in Central Queensland yet again.  It made the early morning trip North to Gladstone Airport from Archerfield Airport (not Brisbane Airport unlike the majority of its previous visits).  After a quick turnaround, it continued further North to Mackay Airport.

File photo

After around a couple of hours on the ground at Mackay Airport, VH-CCJ returned to Gladstone Airport where it was parked up for the night.

At the time of writing, and as with its previous visits, VH-CCJ is due to depart Gladstone Airport for Bundaberg Airport early on Tuesday 30 October.  It is then scheduled to return to Archerfield.

UPDATE!  Indeed on Tuesday 30 October, VH-CCJ flew from Gladstone Airport into Bundaberg Airport.  It then returned to Archerfield later in the day.

Of interest, the Earth Commodities Group supplies a large variety of products from hard rock quarries in Gladstone and Mackay, and from their mineral sands division via Sunstate Sands in Bundaberg.

Visit their website at:  http://www.earthcommodities.com.au/

Photo taken by Col B  ©

Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe-146-200 VH-SAZ Pops into Roma and Miles Airports - Again!

On Monday 29 October, Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe-146-200 VH-SAZ was noted making an early morning visit to Roma Airport.

VH-SAZ arriving into Brisbane Airport recently  (File photo)

The passenger-configured aircraft touched down on what is believed to be a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight from Brisbane as 'SFZ601' / "Skyforce 601".

https://www.facebook.com/avminaircharter/

VH-SAZ then departed Roma Airport for Brisbane before departing again and this time, completing a return flight to and from Miles Airport.  It had also called into Miles Airport, again believed to be on a FIFO charter flight back on Friday 19 October.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©