Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air VH-VAQ "FlyDoc 416" (ex VH-FDA) First Visit to CQ at Mackay Airport

Also on Friday 8 July, recently re-registered Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air VH-VAQ "FlyDoc 416" was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland since its re-registration, calling into Mackay Airport.  It arrived from Mount Isa (where it appears to be based) and then departed to Boulia.

VH-VAQ "FlyDoc 416" started flying out of the RFDS Mount Isa base in June (pictured) and is in fact former VH-FDA "FlyDoc 401" with the aircraft re-registered to 'free-up' the marking for one of the new RFDS Textron Aviation (Beechcraft) Super King Air 360CHW turboprop aircraft which are due for delivery later in the year.

It is now the third RFDS King Air to be re-registered over the last year or so with VH-FDR becoming VH-VJU "FlyDoc 445" and VH-FDW becoming VH-VQD "FlyDoc 491" in 2021.

The RFDS took delivery of the first KA360 aircraft late 2021.  It wears the registration marking of VH-FDW and continues to receive pre-service attention at Caloundra Aerodrome on the Sunshine Coast. They will reportedly receive a further three aircraft in late 2022 and have an option to purchase an additional two more KA360 aircraft.

Photo taken by Johno Neilsen  ©