New Helicorp (Australian Army) Leonardo (Agusta) AW139 Helicopter VH-YQJ Ferries North via CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Sunday 25 February, recently registered (on Tuesday 13 February) Helicorp (Australian Army) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-YQJ was spotted at Rockhampton Airport.  It arrived from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre and later departed to Townsville.

It looked to have flown up from Melbourne (Essendon) to Oakey via Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and Toowoomba-Wellcamp the previous day.

VH-YQJ is registered to Helicorp (Toll Group) and we believe is the fourth and final AW139 helicopters that have been leased to the Australian Army's 5th Aviation Regiment based at Townsville. They have been provided to the Army to provide a similar capability to the NH Industries MRH-90 so pilots can keep up their hours.

VH-YQJ joins VH-YBG and VH-YQC at Townsville with these two still operating flights out and back with Australian Army flight numbers and callsigns.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 25 February, Elite Helicopters (Archerfield) Eurocopter  AS 350 B3 Squirrel helicopter VH-YQK departed Roma Airport for Archerfield. 

Western Australia based Cirrus SR22 VH-SRY landed at Longreach Airport from Birdsville. It had come from Bendigo, Tyabb and Broken Hill yesterday.

UPDATE!  On Monday 26 February, VH-SRY departed Longreach Airport back to Bourke and Tyabb. 

DeGunst Transport P/L Textron (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-NPZ looked to return to Bundaberg Airport from North Keppel Island.  It flew into there from Archerfield and Bundy on Friday.

And the Redcliffe Aero Club Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68C VH-VMV completed aerial survey work over Blackwater mine sites while on a flight out of and back to Rockhampton Airport.

Finally, also on Sunday 25 February, a few bizjets noted around the region included AAA Aircraft / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ which flew up from the Sunshine Coast and landed at Bundaberg Airport.  It then departed to Bankstown.

UPDATE!  In the wee small hours of Monday 26 February, VH-CCJ returned to Bundaberg Airport from Bankstown before then returning to the Sunny Coast.

Australian Corporate Jet Centres' operated Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy bizjet VH-VLT called into Hamilton Island Airport from Kangaroo Island and Adelaide.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 28 February, VH-VLT departed Hamilton Island Airport for Sydney and then Melbourne (Essendon).

While S&S Aviation / Business Aviation Solutions Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XPA departed Hamilton Island Airport for the Gold Coast.  It had arrived from there on Friday 23 February.

And Air Link (Dubbo) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SEQ was noted departing Archerfield for Charleville Airport.  It later returned to Archerfield.

Photos taken by Steve Vit and Scott Harris  ©