Preparations at Rockhampton Airport for the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2019 - Antonov AN-124 andHeavy Jet Passenger Charters Coming Soon - Plus RSAF A330MRTT!

It's that time of the year again and preparations are beginning around Rockhampton Airport for the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2019, which is scheduled to take place around the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) from approximately Tuesday 24 September to Thursday 7 November.

As usual, there will be a significant deployment and redeployment of personnel and equipment taking place before, during and after the Exercise through Rockhampton Airport.  This will be highlighted by a visit by the giant Antonov AN-124 cargo jet with two inbound flights this year already being rumoured to be touching down as early as this weekend!

There will also be some heavy jet passenger charter flights with information suggesting that these could be supplemented by the first-time arrival into Rockhampton Airport of a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Airbus A330MRTT (KC30). 

Singapore ordered six A330MRTT aircraft in 2014 to replace their four venerable Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers, some of which were more than 50 years old.

Recently released AirServices Australia and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) documents indicate that Exercise Wallaby 2019 will see the participation of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and military helicopters including Boeing CH-47D Chinooks (from Oakey), as well as Boeing AH-64D Apache and Aerospatiale / Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma helicopters which are being flown in from Singapore.  All these aircraft and helicopters will operate from both Rockhampton Airport and from within the Exercise area.

Stay tuned to the Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog Facebook Page or Twitter Feed for the latest news and movements associated with Exercise Wallaby 2019.

Photos taken by Russell Prothero and Sid Mitchell  ©