Overnighting Rescue Helicopters - QGAir VH-EGK & Babcock VH-PXY - Both Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 28 June, the two visiting rescue helicopters that arrived into Rockhampton Airport the previous day, were both photographed as they rested in the cool morning air.

Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopter (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-EGK arrived late Monday from Archerfield, and later on Tuesday, it departed Rockhampton Airport for Townsville and then Cairns where it has commenced operations as "Rescue 510".

And Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP VH-PXY flew down from Cairns to Rockhampton Airport via Townsville and Mackay Airports on Monday, and later on Tuesday, it departed Rockhampton Airport for Bundaberg and Toowoomba Airports before then flying into Coffs Harbour where it looks to be undergoing planned maintenance.

While another nice helicopter to be noted passing through the region, also on Tuesday 28 June, was South-East Helicopters / Trecked Pty Ltd (New South Wales) Kawasaki BK117 B-2 VH-FHD.  It originally departed Bankstown and called into Cessnock, Tamworth, Moree, Roma, Emerald and Mackay Airports.

UPDATES!  On Wednesday 29 June, VH-FHD departed Mackay Airport and finished the day at Cairns.  On Friday 1 July, VH-FHD looked to arrive at its ultimate destination of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Meanwhile, a couple of corporate bizjets also noted around the region, also on Tuesday 28 June, included Execujet Australia Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-VSZ which visited Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Sydney.

While McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY called back into Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns.  It then departed to its Sunshine Coast base. It had flown North to Cairns via Hamo on Sunday 26 June.

Finally, also on Tuesday 28 June, Gulf Aircraft Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-PYO arrived into Longreach Airport from Toowoomba.  It then looked to continue to the North-West.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 30 June, VH-PYO returned to Longreach Airport before departing to Brisbane.

Brisbane-based Australian Agricultural Company Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC also flew into Longreach Airport but from Archerfield.  It then departed to Avalon Downs.  Later, VH-AAC returned to Archerfield.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 29 June, VH-AAC looked to again fly from Archerfield to Longreach Airport and Avalon Downs.

DeGunst Transport P/L Textron (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-NPZ made its weekly flight from Bundaberg to Nebo Aerodrome and back - but via Rockhampton and Gladstone Airports.

While Aero Logistics Cessna 404 VH-AZU has been noted again completing an aerial survey flight out of Emerald Airport.

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ landed at Rolleston Aerodrome from Brisbane before it then flew up to my local Clermont Aerodrome where it looked to be staying for the night.

UPDATE!  VH-VEJ remained in the region, flying between some Central Queensland Coal Mine sites and Emerald Airport up until Friday 1 July.

And Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TFQ completed a flight out of and back to Rockhampton Airport down to Gladstone as HND480.

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

All photos taken by Trevor Hardsman  ©