Manolos Aviation (PNG) Bell 222 Helicopter P2-KID (ex VH-OSU) Passes Through CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 31 October, recently registered Manolos Aviation (Papua New Guinea) Bell 222 helicopter P2-KID was noted passing through a couple of Central Queensland Airports while seemingly on a delivery flight from Tasmania to Papua New Guinea.

It looked to arrive into Bundaberg Airport from Redcliffe before then flying up to Rockhampton Airport and then the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour where it is pictured above.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 1 November, P2-KID departed Shute Harbour and flew into Townsville and then ports further North.

P2-KID looked to start its delivery flight from Devonport in Tasmania over the weekend.  It seems that the recently re-registered Bell 222 helicopter was previously on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-OSU and was operated in Tassie.

Of interest, Manolos Aviation (PNG) was established in 2008, and operates helicopter charter services in PNG.  The company has also partnered with provincial governments in PNG to provide much needed medical evacuation services to remote areas.

Manolos Aviation operates a fleet of twin-engine helicopters including another pair Bell 222s P2-HOT and P2-DAD (ex VH-RLI also from Tasmania), Bell 430 P2-MUM (ex VH-HIA which operated at Mackay Airport), Kawasaki BK117B-2 P2-BIB, three MBB Bo105s P2-MPG, P2-TWO and P2-NTI, plus Sikorsky S-76A P2-VIP.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 31 October, Airflite / Commonwealth of Australia (Cadets Branch - Air Force) Diamond DA 40 NG Star VH-UEX as "Astra 201" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to Rockhampton Airport before then continuing to Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 1 November, VH-UEX "Astra 201" departed Townsville and flew down to Mackay Airport.

FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 1 November, VH-FKB departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Toowoomba.

And Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQW visited the Wanella Station Airstrip near Coppabella, arriving from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast), Maryborough and Rockhampton Airports.  It later returned directly to Hervey Bay Airport.

Finally, also on Monday 31 October, after arriving over the weekend, Jetstream Aviation (Emprja P/L) Cessna 550 Citation II VH-VDF departed Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and returned to the Sunshine Coast.

And departing Hamilton Island Airport was Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO.  It flew back to Bankstown after completing a couple of flights from there to Hamo and back over the weekend.

Photo taken by Lee Holloway  ©