Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-001 "Dragon 34" Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 16 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-001 was spotted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

It was heard to be flying as "Dragon 34" and flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to complete the missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It then returned to Amberley.

Of interest, this is believed to the first time we have featured A39-001 since it has been re-painted.

On their entry to RAAF service, the KC-30A fleet initially carried a ‘low-visibility’ grey colour scheme brought over from the predecessor Boeing B707 Tanker Transports. This included the aircraft’s identification numbers, emergency markings, RAAF roundels and squadron insignia being applied in blue grey paint.

Difficulty with identifying individual KC-30As on the tarmac and in the air will see the existing blue-grey markings swapped with dark grey markings that have higher contrast with the light grey applied to the rest of the aircraft.

Most (if not all) of the seven RAAF KC-30As have received these new markings with the dark grey markings to be applied on each KC-30A as it comes due for scheduled repainting.

It certainly makes it a lot easier for us plane spotters to identify the KC-30A with a repaint program applying dark grey markings to the aircraft.

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  ©