Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas Transport Aircraft 54+14 as 'GAF61' Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 9 July, the lead up to the joint Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 (TS25) really stepped up a notch with a couple of awesome visitors into CQ at Rockhampton Airport, including one first-time visitor to the region!

Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft serial 54+14 as 'GAF61' arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and was photographed touching down and then parked on Bay 6. 

It then departed to RAAF Base Amberley, flying at not above 1000ft - departing from Rockhampton Airport's Runway 33 and flying down the river and over town.

Of interest, the German Air Force Airbus A400M is a high-wing aircraft with four turboprop engines, a pressurized cabin and a rear cargo door, and is designed as a strategic and tactical transport and tanker aircraft.  All 53 of the German Air Force Airbus A400M aircraft are stationed with 62 Air Transport Wing in Wunstorf, Germany.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 9 July, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing B757-2K2 NZ7571 as "Kiwi 313" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from RNZAF Base Ohakea and Townsville.  It was also photographed arriving and then parked up for the night also on Bay 6.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 10 July, the RNZAF B757 "Kiwi 313" departed Rockhampton Airport for Auckland.

Finally, also on Wednesday 9 July, Australian Army Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters (believed to be) A15-313 "Stockman 11" and A15-309 "Stockman 12" flew out to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and late this afternoon each returned separately.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-003 as "Dragon 30", which had flown North West from RAAF Base Amberley in the morning with another RAAF KC-30A MRTT "Dragon 31" then turned to go to Townsville, before later flying down from there to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

It then returned back to Amberley.

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Steve Vit  ©