Exercise Wallaby 2025 - Great Photos as Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M-150 UR-82008 Departs Rockhampton Airport for Darwin and Singapore

On Thursday 13 November, the visiting Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M-150 UR-82008 was photographed as it departed Rockhampton Airport for Darwin and then Singapore as ADB3997.

As posted below, it arrived the previous day from Colombo in Sri Lanka and was loaded with the four visiting Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache Helicopters that had been deployed to Rockhampton Airport for the now completed Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25).

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of the Antonov AN-124 at Rockhampton Airport!

Photos taken by ‘IAD’ and Jimmy Scaboo  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2025 - Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124 UR-82008 Arrives into Rockhampton Airport to take The RSAF AH-64D Apache Helicopters Home!

On Wednesday 12 November, Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M-150 UR-82008 arrived into Rockhampton Airport, flying in direct from Colombo as 'ADB397F'.

The massive Antonov taxied in and parked on Gate 6 on the southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron.

Soon after, the Antonov was lowered into its unique kneeling position and the front then opened. It was to load the four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters in preparation for their delivery home to Singapore.

The Apaches have been in Rocky to take part in the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25). As we have posted previously, they have been completing regular sorties to and from the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).  Their serial numbers were believed to be 064, 058, 056 and 069.

With loading complete, UR-82008 was closed up and prepared to stay for the night at Rockhampton Airport with a departure listed to Darwin and then Singapore early on Thursday 13 November.

UPDATE!  Indeed early on Thursday 13 November, AN124 UR-82008 departed Rockhampton Airport to Darwin and Singapore as ADB3997 - see Blog post above!

With all the helicopters and aircraft now gone from Rockhampton and the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) this sees the end of Exercise Wallaby 2025 - bring on 2026!

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Scott H and Steve V for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of the Antonov!

Photos taken by Scott Harris and Steve Vit  ©

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C/D+ (F-16C/D Block 52+ Version) Fighting Falcon Jets - Plus Airbus A330-MRTT '765' - And Lockheed C-130H Hercules '730' - All Depart Rockhampton Airport For Good!

On Monday 3 November, most of the participating Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft departed Rockhampton Airport for good following their participation in the latest iteration of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25).

After arriving the previous afternoon from Darwin, RSAF Airbus A330-243 Multi Role Tanker Transport (A330-MRTT) aircraft '765' departed Rockhampton Airport for Darwin again as 'SAF8542'.

It went shortly before the four RSAF General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16C/D+ (F-16C/D Block 52+ Version) Fighting Falcon jets which also departed Rockhampton Airport also to Darwin.

The four F-16s - serials 637, 620, 615 and 629 - are believed to be flown by the RSAF's 140th Squadron "Osprey" and took to the air again using the ferrying flight callsigns of 'SAF3511A-D'.

Lastly, RSAF Lockheed C-130H transport aircraft '730', which had been deployed to Rockhampton Airport for most of the Exercise and completed multiple daily flights to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and back to Rockhampton Airport, also departed to Darwin but as 'SAF9572'.

At the time of writing, it is believed that all these aircraft will depart Darwin as early as tomorrow to head back to Singapore.

UPDATE!  After a technical hitch which saw the RSAF F-16s and A330-MRTT return to Darwin, they all eventually left Darwin and returned to Singapore by the end of the week.

While these aircraft all departed Rockhampton Airport, the four RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters were moved from their parking position beside Runway 04/22 to the Alliance Airlines hangar where they will have their rotor blades and other components removed in preparation for uplift and transport back to Singapore. 

It is expected that an Antonov AN-124 cargo plane will touch down at Rockhampton Airport either over this coming weekend or early next week.

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 the local plane spotters at Rockhampton Airport for allowing us to share these great photos!

Photos taken by Steve Vit and 'IAD'  ©

The SIX Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopters Depart from Rockhampton Airport as Exercise Wallaby 2025 Draws to a Close

On Sunday 2 November, the six Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters departed Rockhampton Airport for good as the Singapore Armed Forces' Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25) quickly draws to a close.

They departed as two spectacular flights of four and then two helicopters in quick succession from Rockhampton Airport and 'Warriors Camp' back direct to their base at Oakey. They were heard to use the radio callsigns of "Celtic" and then "Concorde".

Meanwhile, the four RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters have been moved into the Alliance Airlines hangar at Rockhampton Airport where they have had their blades and other components removed in preparation for airlift out of Rockhampton Airport with an Antonov AN124 expected to touch down at Rockhampton Airport soon to fly them back to Singapore.

File photos  ©

Great Photos as Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M UR-82027 Departs Rockhampton Airport

As predicted, early on Saturday 30 August, the visiting Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M UR-82027 was photographed as it departed Rockhampton Airport for Colombo in Sri Lanka as ADB396F.

As posted below, it arrived the previous day from Paya Lebar and brought four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters to Rockhampton Airport for the upcoming Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25).

Be sure to stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates on Exercise Wallaby 2025 via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of the Antonov AN-124 at Rockhampton Airport!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Steve Vit  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2025 - Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M UR-82027 Calls into Rockhampton Airport with Four RSAF AH-64D Apache Helicopters

Early on Friday 29 August, a large crowd of onlookers were on hand to see the arrival into Rockhampton Airport of Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124-100M UR-82027 from Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore as ADB3996.

The giant aircraft taxied onto Gate 6 at the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport apron and soon after commenced unloading its cargo. The massive Antonov was placed into its unique 'kneeling' position - with its front landing gear raised - to allow the unloading of its cargo.

On this flight, four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters were unloaded and parked at Rockhampton Airport. Their serial numbers are believed to be 064, 058, 056 and 069.

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".

It is expected that the Apaches will soon be re-assembled and then test flown ahead of their participation in the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25) which is expected to kick-off in the next week or so.

Meanwhile, after all four Apache helicopters were unloaded, UR-82027 was closed up parked for the night. It is expected to depart from Rockhampton Airport early on Saturday 30 August.

UPDATE!  Indeed, early on Saturday 30 August, UR-82027 departed Rockhampton Airport bound for Colombo in Sri Lanka as ADB396F.

Be sure to stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates on Exercise Wallaby 2025 via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of the Antonov AN-124 at Rockhampton Airport!

Photos taken by Steve Vit, John Lee, 'IAD' and JoAwBlake  ©