A Few Australian Defence Force (ADF) Aircraft and Helicopters Around CQ Airports

Some nice Australian Defence Force (ADF) aircraft and helicopters have been spotted and noted around Central Queensland Airports so far this week.

On Tuesday 16 June, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-210 "Stallion 50" departed RAAF Base Amberley and flew up to and was photographed completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It then completed some holding in the area before being photographed completing another missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

A41-210 then returned to Amberley.

Fellow C-17A A41-208 "Stallion 51" also flew up from Amberley but at low level, below 5000 feet, to the Bundaberg area before climbing up to flight levels and flying out off Brisbane to join up with RAAF Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-004 "Dragon 50", for some time before they both returned to Amberley.

Meanwhile, a pair of RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air turboprops were also noted at some Central Queensland Airports also on Tuesday 16 June.

Super King Air A32-671 "Hudson 05" flew up from the Sunshine Coast to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before it flew West and landed at Longreach Airport.

While Super King Air A32-651 "Hudson 09" also flew up from the Sunshine Coast but overflew Rockhampton Airport at high level and completed a missed approach at Emerald Airport before also landing at Longreach Airport.

After a short while on the ground both Super King Airs - A32-671 now as "Hudson 07" and A32-651 now as "Hudson 08" - both departed Longreach Airport and were spotted above arriving into Cairns Airport.  A32-671 "Hudson 07" looked to fly via a missed approach at Townsville.

It appears that both Super King Airs arrived into the Sunshine Coast from their home at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria, flying via Dubbo in New South Wales, on Monday 15 June.

Of interest, another RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air A32-439 "Beaufort 20" was noted departed Roma Airport for parts unknown but on Monday 15 June.  It had arrived from East Sale the previous day.

And also on Monday 15 June, what was believed to be an Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopter as "Checker 01" landed at Longreach Airport from Mount Isa.  It later departed to Oakey.

While up at Cairns, also on Monday 15 June, three Australian Army CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinooks looked to visit from Townsville - A15-310 is pictured arriving above.

Finally, also on Tuesday 16 June, RAAF Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft A97-442 was noted also arriving into Longreach Airport from RAAF Base Richmond as "Trojan 04".  It later departed to Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 17 June, it appears that A97-442 "Trojan 04" flew back South from Townsville to Northern New South Wales via airwork completed in the Whitsundays including at and around Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) and Hamilton Island Airports.

UPDATE!  Also on Wednesday 17 June, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-016 "Saxon 41" was noted completing airwork around Proserpine Airport while on a flight from and back to Townsville.  Fellow MRH-90 A40-036 "Destrier" was also in the air around Townsville.

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

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and Jonathan Williams  ©