Photos of The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130H Flying as 'Rider' Plus Helicopters Operating out of Rockhampton Airport as Exercise Wallaby 2025 Continues!

With the latest iteration of the Singapore Armed Force’s Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25) in full swing, the various Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft and helicopters are completing daily sorties to and from the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) out of Rockhampton Airport and 'Warriors Camp'.

The RSAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules '734', which arrived into Rockhampton Airport last week, appears to have deployed to the beef capital and has started operating 1-2 daily sorties to Shoalwater Bay and back to Rockhampton Airport as a part of the Exercise using its usual callsign of "Rider".

Of interest, the Herc is one of six C-130H aircraft which are flown by the RSAF's 122 Squadron "Condors" based at the Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) in Singapore.  The squadron goes by the motto of "Dependable".

The four RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters continue to fly out as singles and in formations of two (as shown) or even four, completing sorties to Shoalwater Bay and back to Rockhampton Airport using their usual callsigns of "Avon" and "Atom".

As mentioned previously, all four Apache helicopters are flown by the RSAF's 120 Squadron "Kestrel" (also known as the "Red Hawks") based at Sembawang Air Base in Singapore.  The Squadron is the first and oldest RSAF operational squadron in service, first formed in 1969.  The squadron goes by the motto of "Strive To Achieve".

Finally, after deploying direct from their base at Oakey, the RSAF Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters also have been completing sorties to Shoalwater Bay and back in various flight formations. These flights also seem to occur from lunchtime through to the evening.

Most flights are operating out of the 'Warriors Camp' near Rockhampton Airport.  The Chinooks have been heard to be using their 'usual' radio callsigns of "Celtic", "Cyclops" and "Concorde".

Also as mentioned previously, the Chinook helicopters are flown by the RSAF's 127 Helicopter Squadron which is based at the Sembawang Air Base (SBAB) in Singapore, however as mentioned, with a detachment at Oakey.

The squadron goes by the motto of "Strength, Courage, Swiftness", the motto is supported by the squadron motif, a white horse in full battle armour.

Finally, it is believed that some RSAF General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon jets are still to 'deploy' to and remain at Rockhampton Airport for part of the Exercise.  Four aircraft have currently deployed to RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia with it reported that they will deploy to Rockhampton Airport on or about Friday 10 October which is when the Pearce deployment is due to conclude.  Awesome!

As we've been posting, the second 'wave' of heavy jet troop charter flights are currently calling into Rockhampton Airport again being operated by Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner widebody aircraft.

Exercise Wallaby first started in 1990 in Rockhampton and is a Singapore Army exercise based within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as well as at Rockhampton Airport.  This year will reportedly see as many as 6000 Singapore Armed Forces personnel participate in the Exercise.

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 all the local plane spotters for taking the time capture and send through these great photos!

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