Armada Aviation (Victoria) Pilatus PC-12s VH-NWI and VH-XAQ Make Late Night Visit to CQ Airports

Interesting to note late on Sunday 23 February that a pair of Armada Aviation (of Ringwood in Victoria) Pilatus PC-12 turboprops VH-NWI and VH-XAQ were both noted visiting Central Queensland Airports while seemingly ferrying from Lilydale in Victoria to Cairns.

VH-XAQ at Adelaide Airport in 2015  (File photo)

Both PC-12s were due to call into Longreach Airport from Lilydale but looked to divert to Charleville Airport for fuel.  Both then continued to Longreach Airport before heading into Cairns, where they touched down in the wee small hours of Monday 24 February.

It then appears that VH-XAQ departed Cairns and ferried all the way back to Melbourne (Essendon) – perhaps ferrying the crew from VH-NWI home to Victoria?

I still remember the days of seeing VH-XAQ often at Jandakot Airport in Perth when it was operated the Jandakot Flight Centre (JFC) as shown in the photo above.

Interesting!

Meanwhile, also on Monday 24 February, the familiar sight of Brisbane-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VTF departed Archerfield and was due to land at Theodore Airport.  It however, diverted to Biloela / Thangool Airport due to weather.  VH-VTF later returned to Archerfield from Bilo.

Finally, back at Longreach Airport, late on Sunday 23 February, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was noted arriving from Brisbane and Winton.

After staying for the night, on Monday 24 February, VH-SGQ departed Longreach Airport and returned to Winton before continuing to Cairns and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 25 February, VH-SGQ departed Proserpine Airport for Brisbane.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©