Qantas Airways Airbus A330-300 VH-QPC Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Plus Singapore Airlines A350 9V-SHY Back Again - Both Supporting Exercise Wallaby 2022

On Wednesday 31 August, and as predicted, Qantas Airways Airbus A330-300 VH-QPC arrived into Rockhampton Airport direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as QFA316.  It had earlier positioned into Singapore from Brisbane as QFA6001.

After unloading a full flight of passengers and bags, VH-QPC returned to Changi, operating a positioning flight as QFA6003.

It is possible that it will be back at Rocky on Thursday 1 September with another flight scheduled to touch down from Changi.

It’s great to see Qantas heavy jets back in the region once again supporting the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2022 which is currently underway in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

Also on Wednesday 31 August, Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-951 9V-SHY was back again, arriving from and then later return into Singapore’s Changi Airport as SIA8911/2.

Information suggests that we aren't expecting to see the A350, or Singapore Airlines, on this round of passenger charter flights.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks once again to local plane spotters 'IAD' and Scott H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Scott Harris  ©

Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-032 Passes Through Rockhampton Airport as "Destrier 127"

On Wednesday 31 August, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-032 was photographed by local plane spotter Scott H as it arrived into Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to arrive from Brisbane and was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Destrier 127".

After spending some time on the ground, A40-032 was then photographed as it departed Rockhampton Airport and continued North to Townsville.

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

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

Sundown Pastoral Co. New Textron Aviation (Cessna) 680A Citation Latitude Bizjet VH-UCE Pops into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 31 August, brand new Sundown Pastoral Co. Textron Aviation (Cessna) 680A Citation Latitude bizjet VH-UCE was noted visiting Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport on what appears to be its first visit to the region.

File photo

It looked to arrive from and later depart back to its Gold Coast base.

VH-UCE was delivered to Sundown Pastoral Co. at the Gold Coast at the start of July and looks to be a replacement aircraft for their Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NSI which was exported to New Zealand and re-registered as ZK-APL in April this year.

Sundown Pastoral Co. also looked to previously operate Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 900XP bizjet VH-EVF between 2008 and 2016 with it being exported to the USA and re-registered as N881JC.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 31 August, Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-LXZ was noted arriving into Mackay Airport from Bankstown and Maitland.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 1 September, VH-LXZ departed Mackay Airport and returned to Maitland and then Bankstown.

Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-OLJ visited Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.

While Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-XDW visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from Toowoomba-Wellcamp.

Ipswich-based Airborne P/L (Palm Lake Works) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VLQ was noted once again visiting Bundaberg Airport from its Gold Coast base.

And re-registered Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-UJM looked to depart Rolleston Aerodrome for Archerfield.  It appears to have arrived the previous day.

Finally, also on Wednesday 31 August, Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe-146-200 VH-SYO was noted departing Longreach Airport for Winton and Mount Isa as 'SFZ607' / "Skyforce 607".  It then flew to Cairns as 'SFZ9057' / "Skyforce 9057".  VH-SYO had arrived into Longreach Airport on Monday 29 August.

And Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Metro 23 VH-VET also flew into Longreach Airport, arriving from Boulia and departing to Brisbane.

Fellow Link Airways SAAB 340B VH-VEO flew up from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and was heading then to Theodore Aerodrome.  Due to weather however, and after a long hold, it diverted to Biloela / Thangool Airport.  VH-VEO was later able to land at Theodore Aerodrome before then returning to the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

Fellow Link Airways Cessna 441 VH-VEJ arrived into the Oaky Creek Mine Site from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 1 September, VH-VEJ departed Oaky Creek for Moree and Newcastle (Williamtown) before then returning to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©️

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" Overnight Visit to Rockhampton Airport

Overnight on Tuesday 30 August, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

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It originally departed Townsville and later flew down to Brisbane, touching down now in the wee small hours of Wednesday 31 August.

Photo taken by John Lee  ©️

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-208 "Stallion 66" Completes Missed Approach at Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 30 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-208 was noted completing a pair of missed approaches at Bundaberg Airport.

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It departed RAAF Base Amberley and flew directly up to Bundy where it completed the airwork.  It then returned to Amberley for more airwork before later departing out to sea off the South-East Queensland Coast.

Of interest, A41-208 was heard to be using the flight number and radio callsign of "Stallion 66".

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 30 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-007 as "Wallaby 15" called into Bundaberg Airport from Amberley.  It later took from from Bundy and completed airwork including several touch-and-go approaches before then returning to Amberley.

Photo taken by Dan B  ©

Cenderawasih Air (Indonesia) PAL PAC-750 ZK-EPH (to be PK-BSR) Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 30 August, Cenderawasih Air (Indonesia) Pacific Aerospace PAC-750 ZK-EPH was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It flew up from the Gold Coast having arrived there from New Zealand over the weekend just past.

ZK-EPH then completed a local flight including several circuits before returning to the General Aviation (GA) Apron where it looked to be parked up for the night.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 31 August, ZK-EPH departed Rockhampton Airport for Cairns.

Of interest, ZK-EPH is registered to and wears the colours and titles of Indonesia-based operator Cenderawasih Air.  The PAC-750 will also reportedly be placed in the Indonesia Aircraft Register as PK-BSR.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 30 August, Tex Onsite (Tex Assets P/L) Aero Commander 500-U VH-TXE flew up from Rockhampton Airport to Mackay Airport.

Brisbane-based Cessna 210 VH-BJP was heading from Winton to Roma Airport but diverted to Longreach Airport with engine problems.

While on their weekly Fly-in Fly-in (FIFO) charter flights, Southern Air Beech 1900 VH-VSO visited Moranbah Airport from West Sale and Bourke, while DeGunst Transport P/L Textron (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-NPZ completed its weekly FIFO run from Bundaberg Airport to Nebo Aerodrome, this time with a stop at Rockhampton Airport.

And Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe-146-200 VH-SAZ arrived into Longreach Airport from Ayers Rock before heading to Winton and back to Longreach and then to Cairns.

In what would've been a rare sight, VH-SAZ joined fellow  Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe-146-200 VH-SYO on the ground at Longreach Airport with both 'Quadrapuffs' believed to be operating closed tourist charter flights.

Finally, also on Tuesday 30 August, Linfox Global Charter / Air National Australia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-LEP flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon) and Melbourne (Avalon).  It then returned to Essendon.

Brenzil Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW also called into Hamilton Island Airport, arriving from Cairns and then departing to Brisbane.

And Divair (Air Link) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 bizjet VH-NNE visited Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Orange in New South Wales.

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

Photos taken by Scott Harris, Trevor Hardsman and Don Williams  ©

An Awesome Tuesday at Rockhampton Airport as Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-951 9V-SHY Makes a Great Debut in Support of Exercise Wallaby 2022

On Tuesday 30 August, Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-951 9V-SHY made a stunning arrival into Rockhampton Airport, touching down direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as SIA8911.

This was a first ever visit of a Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 into Rocky.

9V-SHY taxied in and parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron.

The visit by the A350 also marked the start of a series of heavy jet passenger charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2022 which has kicked off in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

After unloading a full flight of personnel and bags, 9V-SHY departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Changi but as SIA8912.

Current schedules suggest that the A350 will return to Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 31 August and also be joined by an early morning visit by a Qantas Airways Airbus A330-300 also arriving from Changi.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Scott H and 'IAD' for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of a great first-time visitor to CQ!

Photos taken by Scott Harris and 'IAD'  ©