Three Large RAAF Jets Spotted and Noted Around Central Queensland Airports

It was a busy day around some Central Queensland Airports on Monday 6 March with three large Royal Australian Air Force jets spotted and noted visiting.

RAAF Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft A39-003 as "Thumper 01" and A39-006 as "Thumper 02" both flew out of RAAF Base Amberley and headed up the Queensland Coast.  

A39-003 "Thumper 01" completed airwork at the Sunshine Coast and Townsville before being photographed (above) climbing out after completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It then returned to Amberley.

A39-006 "Thumper 02" completed airwork off the coast of Brisbane with A39-003 "Thumper 01" and then returned to Amberley.

While RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-006 as "Wedgetail 03" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete airwork including at least two missed approaches at Hamilton Island Airport before then returning to Williamtown.

And RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-209 as "Stallion 30" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to complete low level work in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) before then landing at the Williamson Airstrip.  It then returned to Amberley but later once again flew up to Williamson Airstrip before later again returning to Amberley.

Photos taken by John Lee and Nick Sainsbury  ©