A Couple More Bizjets Call into Hamilton Island Airport - VH-DHN & VH-WIO - Plus More!

Over the last couple of days, there has been a couple more bizjets to call into Hamilton Island Airport.

On Friday 19 August, the familiar sight of Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX VH-WIO touched down once again at Hamo from Bankstown.  It appears to be staying for at least the night.

File photo taken by 'AC'  ©

On Thursday 18 August, Business Aviation Solutions Cessna 650 Citation VII bizjet VH-DHN was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from the Gold Coast.  It too remains parked on Hamo.

Meanwhile, the Brenzil Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW, which arrived at Hamilton Island Airport last Friday 12 August, seems to be still parked at Hamilton Island Airport.

Finally, a few light General Aviation (GA) aircraft that have been noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport over the previous few days included Interair (based at Essendon) Beech B200 King Air VH-ITH which touched down from Cooktown on Friday 19 August.  It appears to be on a tour of some sore having departed Essendon 10 days ago and calling into several places in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland.

Regional Air Piper PA-31-350 VH-RKD operated a flight into Hamilton Island Airport from and back to its Mackay Airport base also on Friday 19 August.

File photo

And Aero Commute Australia (ACA) Piper PA-34-220T VH-MRY operated a flight into Hamo from and back to its Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport base also on Friday 19 August.

And after arriving earlier in the week, Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron VH-EZD departed Hamo for Rockhampton and Monto also on Friday 19 August.

A Couple of Helicopters at Gladstone Airport - Corporate Aviation Bell 429 VH-EQP - Careflight Bell 412s VH-XCK & VH-XCY

A couple of helicopter visitors were captured at Gladstone Airport on Saturday 15 August with Corporate Aviation Bell 429 Helicopter VH-EQP calling in from its Southport base while heading North to Hamilton Island.

Careflight (Queensland) Bell 412EP VH-XCK was also captured as it was undergoing a morning engine run.  VH-XCK has spent the last month at Gladstone acting as 'cover' while the normally locally-based Careflight Bell 412EP VH-XCY was in for maintenance at Archerfield.

And funnily enough, VH-XCY actually returned to Gladstone from Archerfield later in Saturday 15 August!

It was expected that VH-XCK would depart South soon after, however a reported problem with VH-XCY meant that VH-XCK was due to depart to Toowoomba on Sunday 16 August.

Finally, it's worth noting that over Saturday 15 August and Friday 14 August there were a couple of interesting light General Aviation (GA) aircraft to also call into Gladstone Airport including Hervey Bay-based Aero Commute Australia (ACA) Cessna 402A VH-RDZ, New South Wales based Cessna 210 VH-KTE and Blackwater-based Beech B58P VH-BLT.

UPDATE!  Information suggests that Cessna 210 VH-KTE has in fact recently taken up residence at Gladstone Airport and is registered to a locally-based Engineering firm.

Photos taken by Col  ©

Bayswater Road / Australian Aerial Mapping (AAM) Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander VH-CWG Spotted at Hervey Bay & Maryborough Airports

Over the course of this week, Bayswater Road / Australian Aerial Mapping (AAM) Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander VH-CWG was noted conducting some aerial survey work around Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

Local plane spotter Ben M popped into Hervey Bay / Fraser Coast Airport late on Saturday 4 July and captured some lovely atmospheric photos of VH-CWG as it completed several touch-and-go's following an afternoon of aerial survey work.

Then, on Tuesday 7 July, VH-CWG was photographed at Maryborough Airport by David G as locally-based Maryborough Aviation Services completed a 50-hourly service on the Islander.

While it was basically an oil and filter change, it later appeared that VH-CWG then had a maintenance issue which meant it remained parked at Maryborough for most of the week.

One final Islander to grace the skies of Hervey Bay this week was Seair Pacific / Istlecote Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-21 Islander VH-URJ which looked to be operating transfer flights from the Gold Coast and Fraser Coast to Lady Elliot Island.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting some of the other visitors into the Fraser Coast over the course of the week including several light General Aviation (GA) visitors noted calling into Hervey Bay Airport including locally-based Aero Commute Australia (ACA) Cessna 402A VH-RDZ which operated to Bundaberg and Gayndah before returning home on Friday 10 July.

For the second time in a month, New South Wales-based Rockwell 685 Commander VH-NJT called into Hervey Bay while heading home from another trip to Far North Queensland.  It arrived from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour on Thursday 9 July and after overnighting, it departed to Taree and Bankstown on Friday 10 July.

The Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ called in during the afternoon on Wednesday 8 July.  Also on Wednesday, Beech F33A Bonanza VH-ZBZ arrived from Archerfield and Toowoomba and parked for the night.  VH-ZBZ departed to Archerfield on Thursday 9 July.  It has been noted wearing the name "Starship Sophie".

Meanwhile, at Maryborough Airport on Thursday 9 July, Istleote/Seair Beech B200 King Air VH-MWQ visited early in the morning, believed to be operating the weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight to Wanella Station near Coppabella.

Photos taken by Ben May and David Geck  ©

Air Fraser Island / Aero Commute Operations out of Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport

Brisbane-based plane spotter Brendan B recently ventured to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and captured a couple of photos of locally-based Air Fraser Island Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 Airvans VH-BFS and VH-BNX as they departed to the nearby beaches of the picturesque Fraser Island.

Air Fraser Island is a family owned and operated, award winning air charter and scenic aerial tours company, based at Hervey Bay, that is uniquely known for providing passenger transfer and scenic tourist flights to nearby World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, using the fabulous beaches as a landing strip for their Airvans.

During the traditional humpback whale Northern migration period between August and October each year, scenic flights to witness these truly magnificent marine animals is another Air Fraser Island speciality.

As well as operating the Air Fraser Island tourist brand, Geltch Enterprises Pty Ltd also operates Aero Commute Australia (ACA) out of Hervey Bay.

File photo

Aero Commute operates 6, 8 and 10 seater, twin engine aircraft that are available any time for charter all over Australia.  Aero Commute can satisfy mine and construction crew staff changes, outback charters and other corporate air charters.

To learn more about Air Fraser Island, contact them on (07) 4125 3600 or by visiting their website at: http://www.airfraserisland.com.au/

Air Fraser Island can also be found on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/AirFraser

Aero Commute Australia can be contacted on 1300 172 706 or by visiting their own website at: http://aerocommute.com.au/

Photos taken by Brendan Berry  ©

Queensland Government Aircraft – And More – Pop Into Bundaberg Airport Tuesday

Making another visit to Central Queensland on Tuesday 29 October were Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY and Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ.

File photo taken by Micah S  ©

VH-SGY touched down from Townsville, and later departed to Brisbane, while VH-SGQ flew Brisbane-Bundaberg-Brisbane.

Meanwhile, another nice Super King Air has been noted at Bundaberg Airport over Monday 28 October and Tuesday 29 October in the form of Wagners Development Company Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-WJW, which operated two return flights from Toowoomba to Bundaberg over the two days.

Wagners B300 Super King Air VH-WJW at Avalon Airport  (File photo)

Also – and on a personal note – Hervey Bay-based Aero Commute Australia (ACA) Cessna 402A VH-RDZ is one of two aircraft that has been operating weekly flights between Bundaberg and Clermont – my local airport!  Over the last few weeks either VH-RDZ or Piper PA-34-220T VH-MRY – also of Aero Commute – have operated from Bundaberg to Clermont and back on what is believed to be Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights.

File photo taken by Micah S  ©

Lastly, local plane spotter Micah S has alerted us to a slight change in Virgin Australia – Virgin Australia Regional Airlines – operations into the Rum City.  It appears that Virgin has changed to flight number on their Bundaberg to Brisbane flights with the flight number changing to VOZ1704.  The VOZ1701 continues to be in the inbound flight to Bundy.

Earth Commodities Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-CCJ at Central Queensland Airports Yet Again

Spotted arriving into Gladstone Airport early on Monday 23 September by Jamie C and Tash C was a familiar visitor to Central Queensland in the form of Earth Commodities Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-CCJ.

After arriving from Brisbane, VH-CCJ departed Gladstone a short time later for Mackay and then Rockhampton.

Then later on Monday 23 September, VH-CCJ returned to Gladstone and stayed overnight.  Also spotted at Gladstone Airport on Monday by Jamie and Tash was locally-based Cessna 210 VH-EFP which was departing to parts unknown.

And also QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOI, which made a spectacular departure off Gladstone's Runway 28 for Rockhampton as QLK2300.

VH-QOI still wears its bright 'Destination Tamworth' - Tamworth Country Music Festival colours.

Then on Tuesday 24 September, local plane spotter Micah S captured the roving VH-CCJ on the ground at Bundaberg Airport after it had earlier arrived from Gladstone.  VH-CCJ evenutally departed back to Brisbane later in the day.

Micah also caught Hervey Bay-based Cessna 402A VH-RDZ of Aero Commute refuelling prior to departing to an unknown location.

Lastly, Micah photographed this Amateur-built Dragonfly 19-4527 resting in the Bundaberg sun.  Not much is known about this ultralight, but I think it looks rather sharp!

Thanks to Jamie and Tash, and also Micah for sending through these excellent shots!  We here at CQ Plane Spotting continuously aim to provide the most up-to-date and interesting plane spotting information and stories from around the Central Queensland region!

Photos taken by Jamie C , Tash C and Micah S  ©

A Few Plane Spotting Photos from a Surprisingly Busy Clermont Aerodrome

My local airport - Clermont Aerodrome - has been quite a busy little airport over the last few days starting over the weekend with a pair of Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) King Air aircraft VH-FDB and VH-FDI - popping in over Sunday 27 May and Monday 28 May.

Also on Monday 28 May, I photographed Aero Commute Australia (ACA) Piper PA-34-220T VH-MRY shortly after it arrived from Gladstone - where Jamie C had earlier captured its departure!

VH-MRY at Gladstone Airport preparing for departure to Clermont earlier in the day (Photo taken by Jamie C ©)  

VH-MRY later departed to Toowoomba.

Later on Monday 27 May, three Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-300 aircraft arrived on their now twice weekly (Monday and Thursday) Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) flights from Brisbane and the Sunshine coast.  The three aircraft - VH-QQM VH-QQN and VH-QQP - all stayed overnight and were photographed early on Tuesday 28 May as they prepared for departure back to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Also on Tuesday 28 May I finally captured Nitro Aviation (Nitro Drilling) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NDT.

The Super King Air was actually making its third visit to Clermont this week, having flown in from the Sunshine Coast on Monday 27 May before departing for, and overnighting at Emerald Airport. VH-NDT returned to Clermont early on Tuesday 28 May and departed for the Sunshine Coast, returning from there later in the day and staying overnight at Clermont.

Some Plane Spotting Photos from Gladstone Airport From This Week

Local plane spotters Jamie C and Tash C have enjoyed some good plane spotting over the last couple of days, with a mix of light charter visitors and some interesting aircraft passing through after attending the Old Station Fly-in over the weekend.

Two such aircraft passing through Gladstone on Sunday 26 May after attending the Old Station Fly-in were Aerospatiale AS.365N2 Dauphin VH-NAR which is operated by McDermott Aviation.

And New South Wales-based SOCATA TB-10 VH-WWW.

On Monday 27 May, Toowoomba-based Cirrus SR22 VH-VIA arrived in Gladstone.  It was due to depart further North to Mackay and Townsville.

Calliope-based Cessna 210 VH-BGH had a big day of flying being noted at Gynmpie, the Gold Coast, and Archerfield, as well as Gladstone, where it was captured by both Jamie and Tash.

Reid Heliwork brightly coloured Robinson R-44 VH-HZQ was photographed by Tash C.

Lastly, Aero Commute Australia (ACA) Piper PA-34-220T VH-MRY was captured by Jamie as it arrived from Hervey Bay.

It joined a very busy General Aviation apron at Gladstone Airport on Monday 27 May.

Eventually, VH-MRY departed for my local 'drome - Clermont!

Sincere thanks to both Jamie C and Tash C for sending through these fantastic photos from last couple of days at Gladstone!

Photos taken by Jamie C and Tash C  ©