Aerotech Helicopters Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopter VH-L6H "Helitack 519" Arrives into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 19 January, Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter VH-L6H "Helitack 519" arrived into Bundaberg Airport from Adelaide via Horsham, Mangalore, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Narrabri and Toowoomba.

ADL Plane Spotter / https://www.jetphotos.com/

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 21 January, VH-L6H "Helitack 519" departed Bundaberg Airport for Kingaroy, Moree and Dubbo.

Helibiz / Heli Lift Bell 205A-1 VH-WOC as "Helitack 420" flew down from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour to Mackay Airport and then Rockhampton Airport presumably on stand-by for the flooding event about to hit the beef capital.

While Henadeck (New South Wales) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-YNE departed Hamilton Island Airport for Bankstown. It had arrived from the Gold Coast last week.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 421" flew from the Sunshine Coast to Wagga Wagga and then Bundaberg Airport before later returning to Sunny Coast.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-002 as "Wedgetail 01" was noted completing airwork at Hamilton Island Airport while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Williamtown.

Plus after dark, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-005 as "Wallaby 60" was noted completing airwork at Miles Airport while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

Capstone Aviation Services (Ballarat) SOCATA TBM 700 VH-KWH Spotted at Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 15 September, sleek looking Capstone Aviation Services of Ballarat (Victoria) SOCATA TBM 700 VH-KWH was spotted at Gladstone Airport.

It appears to have arrived over the weekend from Ballarat and then departed back there via Bourke during Monday afternoon.

Also spotted was New South Wales-based Sling 4 TSi High Wing VH-8HW.  Its movements are not fully known.

While down at Bundaberg Airport, most of the fleet of fire fighting aircraft were spotted parked awaiting their next tasks.  

Canadian-based Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE "Bomber 141".

Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters VH-UHG "Helitak 515" and (UH-60L) VH-8UL "Helitak 517".

Microflite Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-8MF "Firescan 399".

And Perri Air / South Burnett Air Services Quest Kodiak 100 VH-8FV "Firescan 415".

Meanwhile, also on Monday 15 September, the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air, noted departing Mackay Airport for Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Friday 19 September, N142GZ returned to Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew out from Archerfield to Dalby then up to Clermont Aerodrome and Natal Downs and this afternoon reversed the flight. 

Vee H Aviation (Link Airways) Beech B200GT Super King Air 250 VH-VEW flew up from Brisbane to Oaky Creek Mine Site and then Clermont Aerodrome and then back to Brisbane.  It still visits the region several times each week.

And Seair Pacific / Istlecote Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TLH flew up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and Maryborough Airport to Rockhampton Airport and then to Middlemount Aerodrome before then flying down to Lady Elliott Island.

Finally, also on Monday 15 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 as "Wedgetail 02" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete a couple of approaches at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before then flying South to complete more airwork at Coffs Harbour and then back to Williamtown. 

All photos taken by Swavek Topolski  ©

Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter VH-UHS "Helitack 513" Arrives into Bundabreg Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 28 February, Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter VH-UHS "Helitack 513" was noted landing at Bundaberg Airport.  It looked to fly up from Adelaide (Parafield), Mildura, Griffith, Dubbo, Moree and Toowoomba.

It has since been reported that the Black Hawk has arrived into Queensland in preparation for relief efforts following the expected landfall of Tropical Cyclone Alfred which is presently off the Queensland coast.

While the Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300C Super King Air 350 VH-8PH arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Brisbane. 

And a fan-favourite with Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche B VH-SEX arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Pittsworth and Toowoomba.  It later returned to Pittsworth.

Finally, also on Friday 28 February, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft were noted flying together in the region at low level while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.  

They were noted to be A41-208 and A41-210 and flew as "Charger" up from Amberley to North-East of Mackay at flight levels before they then turned inland to descend to low level and then flew down to West of Rockhampton before climbing back to flight levels and returning to Amberley.

Photo taken by Neil Richardson  ©

Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE - Plus Aerotech UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter VH-UHR - Both Arrive into Bundaberg Airport for the 2023 Bushfire Season

On Tuesday 29 August, Canadian-based Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE was spotted soon after arriving into Bundaberg Airport ahead the upcoming Queensland bushfire season. It touched down direct from Melbourne (Avalon) where it has been stored since February.

This is the fourth year that the Canadian aircraft and crew members of the Large Air Tanker (LAT) have been deployed to Bundaberg Airport, meaning the state will again not have to borrow aircraft from other states to fight dangerous bushfires.

Again this year, the Dash-8 will be based at Bundaberg Airport and take up the radio callsign of "Bomber 141".  It will be based in Bundaberg for Queensland’s bushfire season and will be sent to Victoria again for its fire season, which coincides with Queensland’s wet season.

The Dash-8 has a 670km/h travel time meaning the bomber can quickly reach other parts of the state if needed, potentially saving lives and communities all over Queensland. It is able to fly the 300-kilometre direct journey from Bundaberg to Brisbane in 30 minutes at top speed.

Meanwhile, also noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport, also on Tuesday 29 August, was a new aerial firefighting helicopter to make a first first into the region in the form of Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter VH-UHR.

It arrived from its Adelaide (Parafield) base via Mildura, Griffith, Dubbo, Moree, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast.  It looks to be assigned the radio callsign of "Helitak 516".

Of interest, the Black Hawk is one of four acquired by Aerotech that were previously flown by the United States Army.  VH-UHR (Serial 70-343) was previously flown as 81-23621 with US Army Aviation and was reportedly flown by Company C, 1-168th AVN, California Army National Guard.

VH-UHR was registered and delivered to Aerotech at Parafield in January this year.  It was noted that the Black Hawk carried the US registration marking N60004 before having the Australian registration marking VH-UHR applied to its side prior to delivery.

VH-UHR is the 3rd flyable UH-60 for Aerotech and will eventually join sisterships VH-UHG and VH-UHS in service.  There's a 4th Black Hawk that was delivered to Aerotech in 2022 that is to be used for spare parts for the others.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 31 August, Agair Logistics P/L Gulfstream Aerospace (AeroCommander) 695-A JetProp 1000 VH-LMC "Birddog 125" was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport from Stawell in Victoria.  It is assumed that it will again provide airborne support for C-FFQE - and possibly VH-UHR - during this coming bushfire season.

Photos taken by Jan Kretschmer, Hayden Matthew Alexander and Daniel Gorza  ©