Monday, June 3, 2019

QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQB Calls into CQ Airports Now in New 'Silver-Roo' Colours - Updated With Photos!

The fifth of 10 QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen turboprops has recently emerged from the paint-shop looking resplendent after being re-painted into the new Qantas 'Silver-Roo' colour scheme.


On Saturday 25 May, VH-LQB was noted resuming service with the airline after it had emerged from the Flying Colours paint-shop in Townsville.  After then operating between Townsville and Cairns for a couple of days, on Thursday 30 May, VH-LQB looked to make its fist visit into Central Queensland with it noted operating a closed Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight to Moranbah Airport from and back to Townsville as QLK2589/2590.

Since then, VH-LQB has also called into Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns before calling into Mackay and Rockhampton Airports on Monday 3 June, operating as QLK2309/2369 from Cairns and Townsville through to Brisbane.  At the time of writing, it would appear that VH-LQB will be operating out of Brisbane for at least the next couple of days with visits to Miles, Emerald, Moranbah and Gladstone Airports all scheduled.

UPDATE!  Our first photos of the re-painted VH-LQB come from Longreach Airport as it departed to Brisbane on Sunday 16 June as QLK2535.



While not 100% confirmed, it appears that VH-LQB has now been named 'Swan Hill' having been previously unnamed since delivery to QantasLink in early 2011.

As mentioned, VH-LQB is the fifth Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen, joining VH-LQL, VH-LQH, VH-LQF and VH-LQD as the current aircraft to be re-painted in the new and updated Qantas livery and kangaroo logo.  The 'Silver-Roo' livery was introduced to coincide with the introduction the Boeing B787 Dreamliner into service with the airline in 2017.

All of the 'classic' Dash-8-Q400 aircraft have already been re-painted so the new livery is becoming quite a common sight at most Central Queensland Airports.

It now appears now that QantasLink (Cobham Aviation-operated) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXK is now in the paint-shop at Townsville and is expected to emerge in the next couple of weeks in the new Qantas/QantasLink livery.

Photos taken by 'JM' and Greg Weir  ©

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