RDO Equipment Co. Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH Pops into Bundaberg Airport - Now with a 7-Bladed Propeller! - Plus More!

On Thursday 11 May, the reasonably familiar sight of RDO Equipment Co. Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH was back in Central Queensland with the sleek little turboprop visiting Bundaberg Airport.  It flew up from Toowoomba and then returned there via Archerfield.

As shown from this recent photos, VH-WPH has now been fitted with a 7-bladed propeller.  This will reportedly generate less cabin noise and provide increased performance allowing for operations into shorter airfields.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 11 May, Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ visited the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Archerfield only.

Flight One (Services) Beech B200 King Air VH-FON also visited Labona but from Archerfield via the Sunshine Coast. 

FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB departed the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour for Kidston before then returning to Shute Harbour and then onwards to Chinchilla Aerodrome and Toowoomba.

VH-FKB had flown North on Monday 8 May.

Also back in the region was  Dalydine P/L (Pilatus Australia) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-PDE which landed at Emerald Airport from Riveren, Tennant Creek and Caldervale Station before it then departed to Archerfield. 

VH-PDE had flown out there also via Emerald Airport also on Monday 8 May.

While Aero Logistics / Bayswater Road Aerial Surveys Cessna 441 VH-LEM looked to complete some aerial survey operations out of Emerald Airport.

The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-PSY flew into Bundaberg Airport from Brisbane.  It then did a local flight before then departing up to Mareeba and then Cairns.

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew from Brisbane to Mudgee and then Roma Airport before it then flew up to the Oaky Creek Mine site.  VH-VEJ then returned to Brisbane. 

And New South Wales-based MKR Choppers Bell 407 VH-LEC flew up from Kingaroy to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It appears to have departed its Mudgee base last week.

UPDATE!  Over the next couple of weeks, VH-LEC continued up towards Charters Towers and then back down via an inland route to eventually return to New South Wales.

Finally, also on Thursday 11 May, McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY arrived into Gladstone Airport from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane before eventually departing all the way down to Melbourne (Essendon).

Plus fellow McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-ZPY popped into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns.

Photo taken by Garry Wilkinson  ©