Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-NKQ Operates a Closed Charter Flight to the Red Centre from Gladstone Airport

Early on Friday 29 October, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jet VH-NKQ was noted arriving into Gladstone Airport from Brisbane as UTY583.  It then departed direct to Ayers Rocky (Yulara) on what appears to be another closed charter flights to the Red Centre.

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Then on Sunday 31 October, VH-NKQ was noted passing back through Gladstone Airport, arriving from Ayres Rock and then departing back to Brisbane but as UTY584.

Nice!

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" Pops into Rockhampton Airport

Very early on Sunday 31 October, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane.

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After almost an hour on the ground, VH-URR "Ambulance 604" departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Brisbane.

Photo taken by John Lee  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-001 Pops into CQ Airports Over the Weekend on Training Flight

On Saturday 30 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-001 was noted visiting a couple of Central Queensland Airports as it looked to complete a training flight up the New South Wales and Queensland coasts.

A36-001 was flying as "Envoy 38" and looked to depart Canberra for Coffs Harbour before it then landed at Bundaberg Airport for a short time.  It then departed Bundaberg Airport and continued up to land at Hamilton Island Airport.  A36-001 "Envoy 38" then flew up to complete a missed approach at Cairns before it then finished the day at Townsville (as pictured above).

As shown A36-001 still wears additional decals to commemorate the RAAF's 100th anniversary.

It is assumed that A36-001 will fly back South - possibly via Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) and Rockhampton Airports - on Sunday 31 October, as these training flights like this one have done in the past.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 31 October, and indeed as predicted, A36-001 "Envoy 38" flew South from Townsville (pictured) and completed a missed approach at Proserpine Airport before doing airwork and then landing at Rockhampton Airport.  

It then departed Rockhampton Airport (pictured) and landed at the Gold Coast before it then continued back to Canberra.

Finally, also on Saturday 30 October,  RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-001 looked to complete airwork at Emerald Airport as "Wallaby 42".

Photos taken by Graham Aspinall and John Lee  ©

Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 Bizjet VH-TEY Overnight Visit to Mackay Airport

Very late on Friday 29 October, Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY was noted arriving into Mackay Airport from its Archerfield base.

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After staying for the night, around dawn on Saturday 30 October, VH-TEY departed Mackay Airport and returned to Archerfield.

Photo taken by David Geck  ©

Former Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VOQ Departs Australia For Good from Alice Springs Storage as VP-CJA

During this week on Wednesday 27 October, it was interesting to note that former Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VOQ (now registered as VP-CJA) departed Australia for good after being in storage at Alice Springs for a period of time.  VP-CJA initially flew into Darwin before continuing to South Korea and then Guangzhou, China where it looks to have been placed in storage. 

VP-CJA departs Darwin  (Photo taken by Sid Mitchell  ©️)

The B737-800 - as VH-VOQ - ferried into Alice springs on Sunday 18 October 2020 after being initially sorted at Brisbane since March 2020.

VH-VOQ at Alice Springs in September  (Photo taken by Jarrod Swanwick  ©️)

VH-VOQ has had an interesting history with it originally ordered new by and registered to Virgin Blue in October 2003.  It was accepted by Virgin Blue in the standard Pacific Blue livery and delivered to Australia via Brisbane in late October 2003.  The aircraft was named 'Peta Pan'.

VH-VOQ operated its first flight for Virgin Blue at the end of October 2003.

VH-VOQ at Brisbane Airport in 2006

VH-VOQ at Brisbane in 2008

In the years after, VH-VOQ was one of several B737-800 aircraft to be partially re-painted and have the 'Pacific Blue' titles and colours on the fuselage removed.  Smaller 'Airline of Virgin Blue' titles were added and then 'edited' as shown below.

VH-VOQ in 'Airline of Virgin Blue' livery in 2011

VH-VOQ in 'Airline of Virgin Blue' livery in 2011

Virgin Blue was eventually renamed Virgin Australia Airlines in May 2011 and at then end of 2011, VH-VOQ was ferried to Christchurch where the Virgin Australia livery was applied.  VH-VOQ was also re-named as 'Margaret River'.

VH-VOQ at the start of 2012

VH-VOQ with a temporary red nose cone also in 2012

VH-VOQ at Hamilton Island in 2013

VH-VOQ at Rockhampton in 2015

VH-VOQ operated its final flight in late March 2020, with its final visit to Central Queensland on Friday 13 March 2020 when it completed the VOZ613/616 flight into Mackay Airport from and back to Brisbane.

As mentioned above, after being placed into storage at Brisbane, VH-VOQ then ferried to Alice Springs on Sunday 18 October 2020 where it was placed into storage at the Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage facility.

And Brisbane-based Adome P/L Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 Bizjet VH-YWS Spotted at Maryborough Airport

Also on Friday 29 October, Brisbane-based Adome P/L Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 bizjet VH-YWS was spotted visiting Maryborough Airport.

The sleek little Citation looked to arrive from and then later depart back to its Archerfield base.

Sincere thanks David G of Maryborough Aviation Services for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by David Geck  ©

Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-KXM Calls into Clermont Aerodrome - Plus More!

On Friday 29 October, Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-KXM was noted departing Emerald Airport and completing the short hop up to my local Clermont Aerodrome. It then departed to Dorunda (Maramie) and Mareeba.

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As mentioned below, VH-KXM had arrived into Emerald Airport from those places on Thursday 28 October.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 30 October, VH-KXM flew across from Mareeba to Vanrook Station (near Normanton) before then returning to Clermont Aerodrome and then down to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 29 October, re-registered Avcair Cessna 425 Conquest 1 VH-BSM landed at Barcaldine Airport from Archerfield before then returning back to there. 

Finally, also on Friday 29 October, Ipswich-based Airborne P/L (Palm Lake Works) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-PLE flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from the Gold Coast before then later returning back there later in the day.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 31 October, VH-PLE completed another flight from the Gold Coast to Hamilton Island Airport and back to the Goldie.

Photo taken by Russell Prothero  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-002 "Envoy 54" Spotted at Bundaberg Airport Late Thursday

Late on Thursday 28 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-002 was spotted on the ground at Bundaberg Airport. It looked to arrive from Canberra via Brisbane as "Envoy 54".

After almost an hour on the ground, A36-002 "Envoy 54" departed Bundaberg Airport and returned direct to Canberra.

Nice!

All photos taken by Hayden Matthew Alexander  ©

Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopters A15-302 and A15-310 Depart Rockhampton Airport for Townsville via Mackay Airport

After arriving late the previous day, and after being around the region for more than a week, on Thursday 28 October, two of the three Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters finally departed Rockhampton Airport and looked to return 'home' to Townsville via fuel stop at Mackay Airport.

Local plane spotter Scott H was on hand to capture some nice photos as Chinook helicopters A15-302 and A15-310 departed together as "Chainsaw".

It is believed that the third Chinook A15-309 remains on the ground at Rockhampton Airport, possibly with a technical problem.

UPDATE!  Early on Saturday 30 October, A15-309 departed Rockhampton Airport for Mackay Airport and then Townsville as "Stockman 362".

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

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign VH-MMC Back in CQ and Spotted at my Local Clermont Aerodrome - Plus More!

On Thursday 28 October, I was able to captured some photos of MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC at my local Clermont Aerodrome.

The sleek Citation had earlier touched down from the Sunshine Coast via Brisbane.

Soon after I took these photos, VH-MMC returned to Brisbane and then the Sunshine Coast.

Of interest, this is the second time that VH-MMC has visited Central Queensland and the 'local' area this week with it also visiting Emerald Airport in the two days prior - see Blog post below.

Another familiar bizjet visiting the region, also on Thursday 28 October, was Brenzil Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW which visited Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.

And Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI flew across from Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying back down to Archerfield.

It had flown up to Prosie from Archerfield via Rockhampton and Mackay Airports over the previous couple of days - see Blog post below!

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 28 October, AirServices Australia / Aero Pearl-operated Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-FIZ "Auscal 4" also called into Longreach Airport, arriving from Darwin and departing to Brisbane. 

While Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) International Cessna 172s VH-MFQ and VH-WMC, along with Cessna 182 VH-WLX, together, departed Longreach Airport to Townsville. They appear to have been touring around Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory before returning back to Mareeba.

Finally, also on Thursday 28 October, Air Tractor AT-802A N8522Q flew up to Emerald from Brisbane.  It looked to arrive into Brisbane from overseas the previous day - possibly on delivery to a local operator.

And Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-KXM flew from Mareeba and Dorunda (Maramie) to Emerald Airport where it appears to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Friday 29 October, VH-KXM departed Emerald Airport for Clermont Aerodrome before it then departed back to Dorunda and Mareeba.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 30 October, VH-KXM departed Mareeba for Vanrook Station and Clermont Aerodrome before it then flew down to the Sunshine Coast.

The Three Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopters A15-302, A15-309 & A15-310 Arrive Back into Rockhampton Airport

On Wednesday 27 October, the three Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters that have been in various parts of Central Queensland over the last week returned into Rockhampton Airport, each flying in separately from the South.

The three Chinooks were again noted as A15-309 which flew as "Chainsaw 12", A15-310 which flew as "Stockman 369" and A15-302 (pictured) which flew as "Stockman 365".

At the time of writing, all three Chinooks remain parked at Rockhampton Airport.

Sincere thanks to local photographer Steve V for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©