More Photos of Aircraft and Helicopters at CQ Airports in Support of Bushfire Fighting Efforts

As the sun set on another busy day on Friday 30 November with no respite for weary firefighters battling to keep containment lines and fires away from populated areas in different parts of Central Queensland, here are some more great photos of the visiting aerial firefighting aircraft and helicopters.

Making an early morning departure back 'home' to HMAS Albatross at Nowra in New South Wales was Air Affairs Australia / Gojet Gates LearJet 35A bizjet VH-LJJ as "Firescan 121".  It had arrived from there late the previous day (as pictured below).

Fellow Air Affairs Australia / Gojet operated aircraft - Gates LearJet 35A bizjet VH-LPJ as "Firescan 124" and Beech B200T King Air VH-LAB as "Firescan 125" both operated between Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport - where they are based - up and down the Queensland coast between Mackay and the Gold Coast.

The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-PSQ was also noted completing aerial survey flights out of Rockhampton Airport.

Visiting Gladstone Airport on Friday 30 November was the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY.   It arrived from and later departed back to Brisbane.

A couple of other notable arrivals into Gladstone Airport were a pair of Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jets which appeared to transport firefighting personnel into the region to assist/replace the current personnel on the ground in the fire-zone.

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VH-QQV positioned from Brisbane to Dubbo in New South Wales as UTY565 before heading to Gladstone Airport as UTY566.  It then departed to Sydney as UTY567 before heading back to Brisbane as UTY568.  VH-NKQ positioned from Brisbane to Canberra as UTY561 before also heading to Gladstone Airport but as UTY562.  It then departed to the Balina / Byron Bay Gateway Airport in Northern New South Wales as UTY563 before returning to Brisbane as UTY564.

Of the water-bombing firefighting aircraft and helicopters, the Conair Aviation (Canada) British Aerospace BAe 146 / Avro RJ-85 C-GVFT "Bomber 166" was noted completing multiple flights out of Rockhampton Airport to the Deepwater fire-zone near Agnes Water.

Of interest, sistership and fellow RJ-85 C-GVFK "Bomber 165" which was expected to also visit Rocky earlier in the week flew into the South-East corner of Queensland and seems to be operating water-bombing flights over Stradbroke Island from RAAF Base Amberley.

While the Coulson Aviation (USA) Boeing B737-300 Large Air Tanker 'Fireliner' N137CG "Bomber 137" seems to be now based at Mackay Airport but flew down and also completed water-drops to the South and North of Rockhampton.

Victorian-based Agair Logistics P/L Gulfstream American Corporation 695A Jetprop Commander 1000 VH-HPY as "Birddog 275" remains in the area and joined the large water-bombing aircraft to the South of Rockhampton.

The two Emerald-based Central Highlands Aerial Services (CHAS) water-bombers - Thrush S2R-T660 aircraft VH-PMD "Bomber 434" and VH-KCS "Bomber 435" - were again kept busy departing Rockhampton Airport to the South before later returning for the night.

The firefighting efforts from the visiting helicopters was led from Rockhampton Airport by Touchdown Helicopters (Wollongong) OAS Parts (Bell) UH-1H Iroquois VH-OXE as "Helitack 223" which operated in The Caves area.

Stirling Helicopters (Stirling Consolidated) / Eagle Copters Leasing Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 helicopter VH-IBF as "Firebird 423" was again noted operating around the Deepwater / Agnes Water area.

While a 'new' helicopter for the area in the form of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) own Aerospatiale AS.350B2 Squirrel helicopter VH-NFO as "Firebird 200".

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It was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from the South.

Sincere thanks yet again to the local plane spotters for their help in compiling the information and for allowing us to share these great photos contained in this post.  We offer our thoughts and prayers to those who are affected by this bushfire emergency and sincere thank those volunteer and other firefighters who are battling these fierce blazes up and down the Queensland coast.

Photos taken by Russell Prothero  ©

QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOT Calls into CQ Airports in New Colours - Plus Photos of Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOS Also in New Colours!

On Monday 26 November, QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOT emerged from the Flying Colours paint-shop at Townsville in the new Qantas 'Silver-Roo' colour scheme.

I managed to capture a photograph (above) of VH-QOT resting on the Townsville Airport apron before it later positioned empty to Brisbane as QLK2670.  It then re-entered service operated a regular passenger transport (RPT) flight to Gladstone Airport and back as QLK2340/2341.

VH-QOT has since visited most Central Queensland Airports before finishing the week at Cairns Airport.

From my photos, it appears that VH-QOT has now been named 'Parramatta' having been previously un-named since it arrived into Australia and entered service in 2009.

Meanwhile, also this week on Tuesday 27 November, the previous QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 to be re-painted, VH-QOS, was spotted visiting Mackay Airport.

As we reported below, VH-QOS emerged from the Flying Colours paint-shop in Townsville earlier in November, however these are the first photos we've seen on VH-QOS in Central Queensland.

As shown, VH-QOS has retained its previous name of ‘Mildura’. It was named in 2010 during a ceremony at Mildura in Victoria.

Both VH-QOS and VH-QOT join several other Dash-8-Q400s in the new and updated Qantas livery and kangaroo logo, which was introduced to coincide with the introduction the Boeing B787 Dreamliner into service with the airline late last year.  They are becoming quite a common sight at most Central Queensland Airports.

Of interest, the Flying Colours Paint-shop Facebook page suggested that they have completed their re-painting schedule for this year and as such, there are no Dash-8-Q400 aircraft now 'offline'.  We shall see what transpires next year with the updated Qantas livery and the remaining Dash-8-Q400 and Next Gen aircraft.

Photos taken by 'JM’ ©

LifeFlight Challenger 604 VH-URR "Ambulance 604" and LearJet 45 VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" Pop into CQ Airports

Late on Thursday 29 November, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to arrive from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

VH-URR at Rockhampton Airport during a previous visit  (File photo)

After around an hour on the ground, VH-URR departed to Darwin.  It then returned to Brisbane now on Friday 30 November.

Meanwhile, LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" was noted making a late visit to Mackay Airport also on Thursday 29 November.  It arrived from Townsville and later departed to Brisbane.

VH-VVI then returned to Townsville now on Friday 30 November.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

A Few More Photos of Aircraft and Helicopters at CQ Airports in Support of Bushfire Fighting Efforts

As the bushfire crisis in Central Queensland continued around Agnes Water and Rockhampton, and even spread to parts South and West of Mackay, on Thursday 29 November, the various aircraft and helicopters and their hard working pilots and support staff continued to battle to save properties and keep the fires under control.

The airborne action at Rockhampton Airport commenced pretty early in the day with the Conair Aviation (Canada) British Aerospace BAe 146 / Avro RJ-85 C-GVFT "Bomber 166" photographed heading out to complete a water-drop on the local fires.

It returned a short time later and after being refuelled and refilled, departed on yet another sortie.  The RJ85 later completed water-drops around the Deepwater area near Agnes Water before again operating around Rocky.

Sadly the Coulson Aviation (USA) Lockheed EC-130Q Hercules (L-382) N130CG "Bomber 134" which arrived into Rockhampton Airport via a water-drop late on the previous day developed a maintenance issue and departed Rocky mid-morning and returned to RAAF Base Richmond in New South Wales where it is currently based.

Fellow Coulson Aviation (USA) Boeing B737-300 Large Air Tanker 'Fireliner' N137CG "Bomber 137" returned to Rockhampton Airport from Mackay Airport where it spent the night and was immediately in action completing water-drops around Rocky and Agnes Water again.

Supporting the water-bombing aircraft were again several smaller bizjet and turboprop aircraft including Air Affairs Australia / Gojet (New South Wales) Gates LearJet 35A bizjet VH-LPJ "Firescan 124" which completed flights between Rocky and Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport where it looked to be spending the night.

It was joined in the air by another pair of Air Affairs Australia / Gojet operated aircraft.  Beech B200T King Air VH-LAB as "Firescan 125" departed Mackay Airport and flew into Rockhampton Airport before it also finished the day at Hervey Bay Airport.  While another Gates LearJet 35A bizjet VH-LJJ as "Firescan 121" was photographed below at Rockhampton Airport late on Thursday after it earlier arrived from HMAS Albatross at Nowra in New South Wales.

Also at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport, earlier on Thursday 29 November, Fly Corporate (Corporate Air) SAAB 340B+ (WT) VH-VEP was noted departing there for RAAF Base Williamtown with a load of firefighting personnel.

Back at Rockhampton Airport, the large water-bombers were also supported by the smaller pair of Emerald-based Central Highlands Aerial Services (CHAS) water-bombers - Thrush S2R-T660 aircraft VH-PMD "Bomber 434" and VH-KCS "Bomber 435".  They were again noted completing many runs over the Gracemere and Kabra areas.

And again, Rockhampton-based R-Mach Aviation Ayres S2R Turbine Thrush VH-NFF "Bomber 407" and PZL Warszawa-Okecie M-18B Dromader VH-MDR "Bomber 402", along with their Cessna 337G VH-JOE "Birddog 410" - were again noted operating around the Mackay area with the water-bombers spotted using a landing strip at Finch Hatton for refuelling etc.

Meanwhile, three Air Tractor AT-802 water-bombing aircraft of Kennedy Aviation at Gunnedah in New South Wales were photographed operating out of Maryborough Airport.  The three were identified as VH-XAV, VH-BQE and VH-LHW.

Of the helicopter action also noted around Central Queensland also on Thursday 29 November, at Rockhampton Airport, the reasonably familiar sight of Touchdown Helicopters (Wollongong) OAS Parts (Bell) UH-1H Iroquois VH-OXE was back dropping water in the local area as "Helitack 223".

While down at Gladstone Airport, Calibre Aviation (Webb Helicopters) Williams UH-1H "Huey" VH-UEE was photographed after flying as "Helitack 422".

Finally, a couple more photos from Rockhampton Airport early on Thursday 29 November showing the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet A37-001 which had arrived the previous evening from Canberra via Gladstone Airport as "Wisdom 18".

It was certainly a busy apron at Rockhampton Airport!

Sincere thanks again to the local plane spotters for their help in compiling the information and for allowing us to share these great photos contained in this post.  We offer our thoughts and prayers to those who are affected by this bushfire emergency and sincere thank those volunteer and other firefighters who are battling these fierce blazes up and down the Queensland coast.

Photos taken by 'IAD', Trevor Hardsman, Kayanne Hardsman, Daniel Bishop, AC', David Geck and Michael Fleetwood  ©