Exercise Wallaby 2019 - Volga Dnepr Antonov AN-124 RA-82044 Back at Rockhampton Airport to take RSAF Super Puma Helicopters Home

Early on Tuesday 12 November, the Volga-Dnepr Airlines Antonov AN-124-100 RA-82044 returned to Rockhampton Airport, this time flying in direct from Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore as "VDA2399".  It had departed Rocky for there late on Sunday 10 November - see Blog post below.

As usual, after landing, the massive Antonov taxied in and parked on Gate 6 on the southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron.

Soon after, the Antonov was lowered into its unique kneeling position and the front then opened.  It was to load the four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Aerospatiale / Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma helicopters in preparation for their delivery home to Singapore.

The Super Pumas have been in Rocky to take part in the Exercise Wallaby 2019.  As we have posted previously, they have been completing regular sorties to and from the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

At the time of writing, RA-82044 was expected to remain parked at Rockhampton Airport overnight and depart some time on Wednesday 13 November.

UPDATE!  The Antonov RA-82044 departed Rockhampton Airport for Paya Lebar direct early on Wednesday 13 November as "VDA2400".

And with the departure of the AN-124 that marks the end of the airborne action at Rockhampton Airport as the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2019 is wrapped up for another year.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of the Antonov!

Photos taken by Scott Harris  ©