Western Downs Civil (Chinchilla) Raytheon B200 King Air VH-85H Calls into a Couple of CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 4 November, Western Downs Civil (Chinchilla) Raytheon B200 King Air VH-85H flew up from Archerfield to Moura Aerodrome and then West to Longreach Airport and then Alice Springs and then Ambalindum.

File photo

Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12//47E NGX VH-8HP flew down from Mackay Airport to Bundaberg Airport and then West to Keeroongooloo then up to Hamilton Island Airport and then to Tierawoomba.

While AirServices Australia / Aero Pearl-operated Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-FIZ as "Auscal 4" landed at Longreach Airport from Darwin and then departed to Brisbane.

And Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew up from Brisbane to Clermont Aerodrome before continuing to the Oaky Creek Mine Site.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 4 November, New South Wales Rural Fire Service / Coulson Aviation (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation VH-VJO as "Firescan 201" which had landed at Longreach Airport on Saturday, departed there to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport via a fire area near Hughenden and this afternoon flew down from Proserpine Airport to its RAAF Base Richmond home.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" landed at Winton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Mackay Airport and then Brisbane.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 Bizjet VH-ZIY as "Machflight 41" Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Sunday 3 November, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-ZIY as "Machflight 41" visited Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast and Archerfield.  VH-ZIY is reportedly for sale.

https://www.planesales.com.au/

While Air Charter Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-VKX was spotted visiting Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 3 November, newly registered Brisbane-based JMB VL-3TE-915 Evolution VH-PPJ was noted flying up from Southport to Pacific Haven, Lakeside Airpark and then Ayr.

UPDATE!  On Friday 15 November, VH-PPJ flew directly back from Ayr to Southport.

Of interest, the JMB VL-3 is a Czech designed and built ultralight aircraft that is reportedly the fastest flying ultralight aircraft in the world!

Finally, on Saturday 2 November, M. D. H. P/L (Cloncurry) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-MDH was noted visiting Kierawonga (YKRW) from Archerfield.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-004 Calls into Rockhampton Airport

On Saturday 2 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-004 was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

It was heard to be flying as "Dragon 50" and flew down from Darwin where it looked to arrive a couple of days prior.

After completing some unloading and re-loading, the KC-30A then departed to Brisbane.

We suspect it may have brought in some personnel and equipment to the area to participate in a joint military Exercise Trident in the following couple of weeks where Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel will participate alongside their Singapore Armed Forces compatriots within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

Photos taken by Steve Vit and John Lee  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2024 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLE and V8-DLD Both Call into Rockhampton Airport

As predicted, a busy day at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 2 November with two Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft calling in to both transport personnel and equipment in and out of Rocky in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2024 (XWB24).

During the morning, Dreamliner V8-DLE returned to Rockhampton Airport once again, again touching down direct from Singapore's Changi Airport but as RBA4363.  It later departed back to Changi but as RBA4364.

Later still, fellow Dreamliner V8-DLD made yet another appearance at Rockhampton Airport during one of the 'waves' of heavy jet passenger charters, touching down from Brunei as RBA4371.

It also later departed back to Singapore but as RBA4372.

As mentioned, both V8-DLE and V8-DLD will most likely return to Rockhampton Airport on Sunday 3 November and again on Monday 4 November which will then see the conclusion of the first part of this fourth and final 'wave' of charters.  The charter flights will re-commence in around 12 days' time following the conclusion of a short joint military training Exercise Trident which is due to take place in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) over the next week or so.

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 local aviation photographer Steve V for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Isle of Man-Registered Bombardier Global 5000 Bizjet M-CVGL Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 1 November, Isle of Man registered Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 bizjet M-CVGL departed Mackay Airport for the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

It had arrived late the previous afternoon from Melbourne (Essendon) and the Sunshine Coast and was photographed parked on the Mackay Airport parking apron soon after its arrival on Thursday 31 October.

Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF visited Hamilton Island Airport from Archerfield.

Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU visited Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Moorabbin) via Melbourne (Essendon).

De Group Air / Business Aviation Solutions Embraer EMB-545 Praetor 500 bizjet VH-8DE also arrived into Hamilton Island Airport but from Melbourne (Essendon) via the Gold Coast.

And New South Wales Rural Fire Service / Coulson Aviation (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation V bizjet VH-VJT as "Firescan 200" looked to fly from Charleville Airport to Townsville.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 1 November, the Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300 Super King Air 350i aircraft VH-8PD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Brisbane.

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew up from Brisbane to the Oaky Creek Coal Mint site and then Clermont Aerodrome before then returning back to Brisbane.

And Heli-Aust Whitsundays Airbus EC135P3H helicopter VH-ZFD flew up from Redcliffe to Gladstone Airport and then Mackay Airport.

https://www.facebook.com/Bundaberg.Aviation.Fuel

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2024 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLE (with 'RB50' logo) Calls Into Rockhampton Airport as Fourth and Final Wave of Heavy Jet Passenger Charter Flights Begin!

On Friday 1 November, the 'extended' fourth and final wave of heavy jet passenger charter flights in and out of Rockhampton Airport in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2024 (XWB24) commenced as personnel and equipment headed home following the end of the third and final phase of the Exercise.

Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLE touched down at Rockhampton Airport, flying in direct from Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei as RBA4361.

V8-DLE is one of two Royal Brunei B787-8 Dreamliners to wear the airline's 'RB50' emblem, commemorating their 50-year legacy of connecting Brunei with the world.

The Dreamliner was parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron and looked to load a fairly full flight of personnel and their bags.

The Royal Brunei Airlines B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLE eventually departed Rockhampton Airport to Singapore's Changi Airport as RBA4362.

Information suggests that on Saturday 2 November, the Royal Brunei Dreamliner V8-DLE will again arrive into and then depart Rocky for Changi at similar times to Friday.  It also appears that a second Royal Brunei Dreamliner will also visit Rockhampton Airport on Saturday but arriving in the late afternoon and then departing later that evening.  The same pair of Dreamliners will make similar visits also on Sunday 3 November and also into the new week.

Of interest, some flights in this wave will be bring in personnel and equipment to participate in a short follow-up joint military exercise with the Singapore Armed Forces joining elements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for Exercise Trident again in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

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 local plane spotter Katrina A for allowing to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Katrina Millhouse  ©

VIP Aviation (A.C.T.) / Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Melbourne) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign Bizjet VH-EXG Pops into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 31 October, VIP Aviation (A.C.T.) / Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Melbourne) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-EXG arrived into Mackay Airport from Brisbane before then departing to Archerfield and Melbourne (Essendon).

File photo

And Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR visited Moranbah Airport from its Brisbane base.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 31 October, American Registered but Australian based Pilatus PC-12/47E N81DW flew up to Mackay Airport from Adelaide.  It later departed to the Sunshine Coast.

Austrek Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-ZMW arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba and Goondiwindi then departed back to Toowoomba. 

While re-registered Townsville Airlines Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville and then departed to Mackay Airport and back North.  This was the former Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) registered aircraft that looks to have been re-registered in June this year.

And Mackay based Cessna R172K VH-SPW visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from the Marian Airfield.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 30 October, Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF was spotted parked at Mackay Airport.  It had earlier flown up from Archerfield and Cessnock and then during the afternoon, it returned to those places.

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" made an early visit to Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane.

Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.  It then departed to my local Clermont Aerodrome, Dalby and then Sydney. 

UPDATE!  On Thursday 31 October, VH-JSZ flew up from Sydney to Clermont Aerodrome and then onwards to Natal Downs and then to Rockhampton Airport and Archerfield.

While Mitchell Air / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-OFX flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).  It later departed to Brisbane.

Possibly Australian based but American registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet N5883 departed Hamilton Island Airport for Sydney.  As mentioned below, it had arrived from there on Sunday 27 October.

Metro Holdings Australia (Air Link - Dubbo) Cessna 525A CitationJet2 Bizjet VH-EJT also departed Hamilton Island Airport for Bankstown.  It too had flown up from there last Sunday 27 October.

And Arcturus Group P/L / Flight Options (Australia) Dassault Falcon 2000EX bizjet VH-EWB also departed Hamilton Island Airport for Sydney.  It had arrived from there last Friday 25 October.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 30 October, Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12//47E NGX VH-8HP flew West from Tierawoomba to Keeroongooloo then to Emerald Airport. 

UPDATE!  On Thursday 31 October, VH-8HP flew from Emerald Airport to Keeroongooloo and back

Finally, also on Wednesday 30 October, Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter VH-8UH as "Helitack 516" flew up from Bundaberg Airport to Rockhampton Airport.  It then continued to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then Townsville (pictured) and Mareeba.

Subsequent social media posts suggest that it has deployed up to Far North Queensland for the local bushfire season.

Photos taken by Swavek Topolski and Graham Aspinall  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-005 "Thumper 11" Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 30 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-005 as "Thumper 11" was spotted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

The KC-30A had been earlier operating out overhead Western Queensland with fellow RAAF KC-30A A39-007 as "Thumper 12" which completed its flight from and back to RAAF Base Amberley direct.

A39-005 "Thumper 11" flew to Rockhampton Airport to complete a missed approach before it then returned to Amberley. 

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 30 October, Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook A15-305 as "Crow 327" was spotted quickly at Mackay Airport.

It looked to complete a flight from and back to Townsville.

Photos taken by Steve Vit and 'AC'  ©

Recently Acquired Alliance Airlines (Virgin Australia) Fokker F-100 VH-FNC Makes First Visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 29 October, recently acquired Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-FNC made its first visit into Central Queensland, arriving into Mackay Airport from Brisbane operating on behalf of Virgin Australia Airlines as VOZ609.  It later departed back to the capital as VOZ610.  VH-FNC had earlier completed a flight to Canberra and back also on behalf of Virgin.

The Fokker which had been operating over in Perth, Western Australia for some time, flew across to Brisbane on delivery to Alliance Airlines on Thursday 24 October as UTY9822.

The 33-year-old Fokker F-100 (c/n 11334) has had a fascinating history, arriving into Australia in 2008 after being sold to Virgin Australia which then operated the aircraft for Skywest Airlines in Perth, Western Australia.  It had previously been operated by US Airways as N882US and Germania (Air Berlin) as D-AGPO.

File photo

Following the full acquisition of Skywest Airlines by Virgin in 2012/3, VH-FNC was then re-painted into Virgin livery and was operated by the newly named Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA).  VH-FNC was finally withdrawn from use in April 2024 and temporarily stored at Perth.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 29 October, Air Gold Coast Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-ZDM flew up from the Gold Coast and Ballina to Hamilton Island Airport.  It later flew back down to the Gold Coast.

Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK flew up from Orange to the Sunshine Coast and then Bundaberg Airport.  Later, it flew across to Emerald Airport.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 31 October, VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport for Bundaberg Airport before then continuing to the Sunshine Coast and home to Orange.  Interesting to note VH-CMK did a similar pattern of flights a fortnight ago!

And Brisbane-based Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-DEP visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield and Emerald Airports.

Photos taken by 'AC' and David Rowcroft  ©