Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Textron Aviation (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-SQV Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 30 September, Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Textron Aviation (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQV flew up from Archerfield to Hamilton Island Airport. It then flew down to the Sunshine Coast and back to Archerfield.

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While after arriving towards the start of the week, Gulf Aircraft Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-PYN departed Mackay Airport for Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then flying down to Brisbane.

It had arrived into Mackay Airport from Brisbane and Prosie on Tuesday 26 September.

And Aerometrex (South Australia) Cessna 421B Golden Eagle VH-ECF departed Mackay Airport for the South after operating there for the past few days.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

The Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 29 September, the frequent sight of the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was once again in the region, flying into Rockhampton Airport from Carins and Townsville.

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It then departed to Brisbane before later returning to Rockhampton Airport and then continuing to Townsville and Cairns.

Flight One (Services) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-UVH flew up to Truganinnie from and back to Archerfield.

While Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12//47E NGX VH-8HP flew out of Mackay Airport to Redcliffe, the Gold Coast and Archerfield before then returning back to Mackay Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 29 September, seemingly Australian based but American registered Eclipse Aviation EA550 Very Light jet (VLJ) bizjet N771MT flew out to Winton Airport from its Sunshine Coast base.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 1 October, N771MT returned to the Sunny Coast from Winton Airport.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" had a busy day, flying from Brisbane to Gladstone Airport and then Carins.  It then flew down to Mackay Airport and Rockhampton Airport where it was photographed below.

VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" then flew back to Brisbane.

Finally, some helicopter action, also on Friday 29 September, included the delivery of Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV VH-8BH to Clermont operator Bush Heli-Services (in conjunction with Longreach operator Queensland Helicopters).   (UPDATED!  Added photo below!)

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It flew up from Bankstown via Mudgee and Roma Airports to Clermont.

While at Rockhampton Airport, Stirling Helicopters Aerospatiale / Eurocopter AS.350 B2 Squirrel helicopters VH-LBT "Firebird 423" and VH-LGG "Firebird 465" both looked to operate from there to fight bushfires around the Canal Creek area.

One or both helicopters have also been noted operating out of Rockhampton Airport on bushfire fighting duties at other times over the previous couple of weeks.

Photos taken by John Lee, Ash Burggraaff and Steve Vit  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-006 Pops into Rockhampton Airport

On Friday 29 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-006 was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport.  

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It was flying as "Dragon 55" and appears to have flown up from RAAF Base Amberley to Townsville during the morning before departing there and landing at Rockhampton Airport.

After a short time on the ground, the MRTT departed Rockhampton Airport for Amberley.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Chinchilla-based WDC Equipment and Contracting Raytheon 58 Baron VH-EZR Pops into a Couple of CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Thursday 28 September, WDC Equipment and Contracting Raytheon 58 Baron VH-EZR landed at Clermont Aerodrome from Charters Towers and Kidston Aerodromes.  It then departed to Chinchilla and Toowoomba Airports before then returning then back to Chinchilla Aerodrome.  It had flown up from Chinchilla Aerodrome the previous day. 

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Gold Coast-based Beech 35-C33 Debonair VH-DHB looked to complete an Angel Flight from Charleville Airport to Brisbane. 

Re-registered AERgO Asset Management Beech B200 King Air VH-XGV as "Navair 173" landed at Gladstone Airport from Archerfield and Brisbane and then later departed to Chinchilla Aerodrome and then back to Brisbane and Archerfield. 

Gold Coast-based Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-OXF also visited Gladstone Airport, arriving from and then returning to the South-West. 

While Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ as "Navair 170" visited the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Archerfield.

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

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 28 September, there was another charter flight in and out of Rockhampton Airport which was operated by Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZLW.  It arrived from Brisbane as RXA9392 and later departed back there as RXA9393. 

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEH flew down from Horn Island to Longreach Airport and then Goulburn.  It has been operating as "Survey 23" out of Horn Island for the last couple of weeks.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 7 October, VH-VEH returned to Horn Island from Goulburn via Longreach Airport and has since resumed operations as "Survey 23".

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew up from Brisbane to Collinsville Aerodrome.  It is due to return to Brisbane on Friday 29 September. 

Finally, during the early evening, also on Thursday 28 September, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY looked to call into Barcaldine Airport as MC41 from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.  It later returned directly to the capital.

And Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Textron Aviation (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQV flew out of Archerfield to Longreach Airport.  It later flew down to Toowoomba-Wellcamp before returning to Archerfield.

Photo taken by Tim Burnett  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-007 Calls into Rockhampton Airport as "Dragon 54"

On Thursday 28 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-007 was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

The KC-30A originally flew North from RAAF Base Amberley to touch down at Townsville.  It then flew down to Rocky and parked for a short time on Taxiway Juliette for a crew change before then being spotted as it departed back to Amberley.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Agair Logistics P/L Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 Bizjet VH-RMB "Birddog 123" Arrives into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 27 September, Agair Logistics P/L Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 bizjet VH-RMB as "Birddog 123" was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport from Melbourne (Essendon) and Toowoomba.

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UPDATE!  On Thursday 28 September, VH-RMB "Birddog 123" departed Bundy for Dubbo and Stawell.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 41" was noted departing Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport for the Sunshine Coast.  It looked to have earlier arrived from Bankstown.

Air Charter Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-VKX flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane and later flew down to Melbourne (Essendon).  It then flew back to Brisbane.

 

UPDATE!  On Thursday 28 September, VH-VKX flew up from Brisbane and the Gold Coast to Hamilton Island Airport then back down to Brisbane.

Microflite Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-8MF flew up from Adelaide to Hamilton Island Airport before later heading across to Longreach Airport.

 

UPDATE!  On Thursday 28 September, VH-8MF departed Longreach Airport for Melbourne (Moorabbin).

Mike Tango Operations (Toowoomba) Textron Aviation (Beech) B200GT Super King Air 260 VH-8MT visited Bundaberg Airport from Orange (NSW) and Archerfield.

Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-ETF was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns as HND425/6.

Camden-based Hawker Beechcraft C90GTi King Air VH-TRW flew up from there to Roma Airport and then onwards to Cairns.

ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-AYT as ZD220 visited Mackay Airport from its Townsville base.

And Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQI flew up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport to Middlemount Aerodrome before then flying back down there but via Maryborough Airport.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Gulf Aircraft Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign Bizjet VH-PYN Calls into Both Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) and Mackay Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 26 September, Gulf Aircraft Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-PYN was noted flying into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Brisbane.

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After a short time on the ground, it then flew down to Mackay Airport where it appears to be parking.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 30 September, VH-PYN finally departed Mackay Airport and returned to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then flying back down to Brisbane.

Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY landed at Emerald Airport from Archerfield. 

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 27 September, VH-TEY departed Emerald Airport for Charters Towers Aerodrome before then returning to Archerfield.

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It later departed to Waikerie, Mildura and then back to Moorabbin. 

And Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNC as "Rescue 440" flew down from Cairns landed at Longreach Airport via a search operation North of there.  It then departed back to Cairns.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 26 September, Skytrans Airlines commenced a new Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) run from Toowoomba-Wellcamp to Emerald Airport.  Dash-8-100 VH-QQB was spotted at Emerald Airport after arriving from Brisbane and Wellcamp as SKP744/5.

It later returned to those places as SKP746/7.

While over at Rockhampton Airport, Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQI arrived from Townsville as SKP529 and a little later, fellow Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQC departed to Townsville as SKP530.  VH-QQI then proceeded to fly the closed FIFO charter flights to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site and back to Rockhampton Airport.

Finally, also on Tuesday 26 September, RDO Equipment Co. Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH landed at Emerald Airport from Toowoomba and then later departed back to there. 

The Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville before then departing to Brisbane.  It then returned to Rockhampton Airport from the capital before returning back North to Townsville and then Cairns.

While Dasap P/L Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftan VH-MDM landed at Winton Airport from its Burketown base.  It is due to return North on Wednesday 27 September.

Austrek Aviation Cessna 310R VH-DZU landed at Winton Airport from Toowoomba and Roma Airports.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 28 September, VH-DZU returned to Roma Airport and then Toowoomba.

And overnight on Monday 25 September, Air Link (Dubbo) Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS made a visit to Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.

Photos taken by Lloyd Fox and 'AC'  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2023 - Yet More Heavy Jet Movements at Rockhampton Airport - Royal Brunei B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLB & V8-DLA - Garuda Indonesia B777-300 PK-GIF - The End of this ‘Wave’!

There were yet more heavy jet passenger charter flights in and out of Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 26 September in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23).

Again arriving before dawn was Garuda Indonesia Boeing B777-3U3(ER) PK-GIF, which arrived yet again from Jakarta and Singapore as GIA8242/7760.  On this occasion however, the B777 then positioned down to Sydney as GIA7761 and remained parked there for the day.

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Then, after dark, PK-GIF returned to Rockhampton Airport from Sydney as GIA7771 before loading a full flight of personnel and equipment, and then departing to Singapore's Changi Airport as GIA7770.

This was the last time in this wave of movements we will see Garuda Indonesia, and PK-GIF ended up flying from Singapore back to Jakarta as GIA8242.

Meanwhile, also visiting Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday again, were the two Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft V8-DLB and V8-DLA.

VH-DLB arrived from and then departed back to Singapore as RBA4273/4283.

While V8-DLA also arrived from and then departed back to Singapore but as RBA4276/4288.  It later then flew back to Brunei as RBA4288.

At the time of writing, V8-DLB is expected to make one more visit to Rockhampton Airport in the wee small hours of Wednesday 27 September and this will wrap up the second wave of heavy jet passenger charter flights in support of Exercise Wallaby 2023.

The final wave of charter flights will take place in early to mid-October once the exercise has concluded.

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of a couple of great visitors to Rockhampton Airport.

Photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-003 "Envoy 93" Calls into Rockhampton and Longreach Airports

On Tuesday 26 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-003 was noted arriving Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane as "Envoy 93".

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After some time on the ground, it then departed to Longreach Airport where it appears to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 27 September, A56-003 "Envoy 93" flew across from Longreach Airport to Bundaberg Airport where it was photographed below.

Photo taken by Hayden Matthew Alexander  ©️

UPDATE!  On Thursday 28 September, A56-003 "Envoy 93" departed Bundaberg Airport for Brisbane and Canberra.

More Great Photos as ALL FOUR of the RSAF F-16D+ Fighting Falcon Jets Fly out of Rockhampton Airport and Back - Plus More!

On Tuesday 26 September, all four of the deployed Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16D+ (F-16D Block 52+ Version) Fighting Falcon jets took to the air out of Rockhampton Airport as the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23) continued.

During the morning, all four F-16s departed to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in two flights of two with '662' and '665' flying as "Hydra" while '679' and '677' departed as "Trooper".

They later flew down to RAAF Base Amberley for more diversion training before then making a spectacular return to Rockhampton Airport, completing an initial and pitch before landing on Runway 15.

Then, during the afternoon, only three of the F-16s completed similar sorties with '677' and '662' flying as "Trooper" and '665' flying as "Trooper".

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 26 September, two pairs of RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters flew out of Rockhampton Airport and back as "Atom" and "Avon".

And a pair of RSAF Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters flew out of Rockhampton Airport and 'Warriors Camp' adjacent to Rockhampton Airport as "Diamond".

Be sure to 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 the local plane spotters for sharing with us these great photos! 

Photos taken by Daniel Bishop and Ash Burggraaff  ©️