Whitsunday Air Services (Tasmanian Seaplanes) De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver Float Plane VH-OHD Arrives into the Whitsundays - Plus More!

On Monday 25 November, Tasmanian Seaplanes owned and operated since last Monday by Whitsunday Air Services, De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver float plane VH-OHD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the Gold Coast and Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airports.  It then departed to Mackay Airport. It had flown north to Gold Coast over the weekend. 

https://www.instagram.com/hamiltonislandair/

It is possibly heading up to replace fellow Whitsunday Air Services Viking Air Limited (De Havilland) DHC-2 MK I Beaver VH-OHU which crashed in the Whitsundays late in October.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 25 November, Kelsall P/L (Aeronautics and Technology Holdings) Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-PID arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 26 November, VH-PID departed Rockhampton Airport for Barcaldine Airport.  It then departed to the South East and eventually returned to Toowoomba.

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEH visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from Brisbane.  It later flew up from Brisbane to the Newlands Coal Mine site and then across to Mackay Airport and back to Brisbane.

Seair Pacific / Istlecote Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TLH flew up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and Maryborough Airport to Middlemount Aerodrome.  It then flew to Rockhampton Airport and back to Hervey Bay Airport.

Southern Air Beech 1900C VH-VSO completed its weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight into Moranbah Airport from Toowoomba-Wellcamp.

Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESH arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and then departed to Townsville. 

Timberline Helicopters (USA) Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter N274TH as "Helitak 290" was once again noted landing at private property at Kabra, near Rockhampton.  It is returning South from a deployment to Far North Queensland and arrived from Mareeba and Bowen Aerodromes. 

Elite Aviation Group (Elite Helicopters) Aerospatiale (Now Airbus Helicopters) AS350 B2 VH-XCO as "Firebird 415" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Mackay Airport and then departed to Gayndah Aerodrome. 

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" flew up from Brisbane to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before continuing to Cairns.  It then flew to Townsville and then down to Mackay Airport before returning to Brisbane.

Whitsunday Air Services Viking Air Limited (De Havilland) DHC-2 MK I Beaver VH-OHU Crashes in Waters Adjacent to Whitehaven Beach

On Saturday 26 October, the sad sight of Whitsunday Air Services Viking Air Limited (De Havilland) DHC-2 MK I Beaver VH-OHU has crashed into the water adjacent to Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays.

contributed...

Reports say the Seaplane crashed upon landing in the water adjacent to Whitehaven Beach at around 8.30am Saturday morning. 

According to eyewitnesses the plane’s pilot was attempting a water landing near the beach when it "nose dived into the water and flipped upside down". 

The crash will be subjected to a full investigation.

It is believed all five people (1 pilot and 4 passengers) aboard the plane which, escaped serious injury. 

A barge was dispatched from Hamilton Island to recover the aircraft.

Former Whitsunday Tiger Moth Adventures DH-82A Tiger Moth VH-BOJ Passes Through CQ Airports Heading to New Owner - Plus More!

On Saturday 4 November, the now former Whitsunday Tiger Moth Adventures DH-82A Tiger Moth VH-BOJ was photographed as it prepared for departure from Rockhampton Airport on a delivery flight down to new owners in the South East corner of the state.

The iconic yellow Tiger Moth departed the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour on Friday 3 November for Mackay Airport and then Rocky.  From Rockhampton Airport, VH-BOJ headed to Gladstone Airport and Bundaberg Airport and then ports further South.

Sad to see it go...

Meanwhile, also ferrying through CQ, also on Saturday 4 November, was Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante VH-EQB.  It looked to call into Charleville Airport from Goulburn before continuing up to Cairns.

UPDATE!  Information suggests that VH-EQB was de-registered at the start of February 2024.

Finally, also on Saturday 4 November, Australian Corporate Jet Centres' operated Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy bizjet VH-VLT called into Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.  It later departed to the Gold Coast and then Melbourne (Essendon).

Photo taken by Travis Whiting  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" Calls into some CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Sunday 22 October, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" flew up from Brisbane to Mackay Airport and then Townsville.

File photo

Later, it arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and then departed to Bundaberg Airport and then back to Brisbane. 

While Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-LXZ as "Navair 187" landed at Emerald Airport from Melbourne (Essendon) and Bourke.  It later continued up to Mackay Airport and then all the way down to Bankstown.

And Seair Pacific / Istelcote De Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-BVS flew out of the Gold Coast to Roma Airport and then to Brisbane and back to the Goldie.

Photo taken by Ryan Hothersall  ©

Air Link (Dubbo) Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS Spotted at Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 28 August, Air Link (Dubbo) Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS was spotted visiting Gladstone Airport.

It looked to fly up from and then later return to Archerfield via Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 28 August, Re-registered AERgO Asset Management Beech B200 King Air VH-XGV as "Navair 173" visited the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Archerfield and the Sunshine Coast.

Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQI arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

Fellow Seair Pacific / Istelcote De Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF arrived into Labona from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 30 August, VH-TQI flew from Rockhampton Airport to Labona before then both VH-TQI and VH-ZKF flew from Labona to Townsville and back.  VH-ZKF then flew back to Hervey Bay Airport, while VH-TQI flew to Middlemount Aerodrome and then to Maryborough and Hervey Bay Airports.

Recently re-registered (to Emerald Coaches, in Emerald) Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-ZMM flew down from Emerald Airport to Gympie.  It had flown in from Kununurra and Cloncurry Airports the previous day.

And re-registered Geeair (Lara, Victoria) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-UJM landed at Barcaldine Airport from Lethbridge Park. 

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 30 August, VH-UJM departed Barcaldine Airport and returned to Lethbridge Park.

Finally, also on Monday 28 August, Darwin-based Lloyd Aviation Jet Charter Dassault Falcon 900 bizjet VH-PPD made the short hop from Mackay Airport to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying down to Brisbane.  It had arrived into Mackay Airport from Brisbane via Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport last Friday 25 August.

And MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC visited Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

Photo taken by Emily C  ©️

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 Jet VH-KBX Arrives into Rockhampton Airport (Reportedly) for Long-Term Storage - Plus More! - UPDATED with Photos!

On Monday 21 August, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jet VH-KBX arrived into Rockhampton Airport as 'UTY9812' from Brisbane.  It has reportedly arrived to be placed in long-term storage at the new Alliance Airlines hangar at Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  More photos have been captured of VH-KBX in storage and added to this Blog post!

VH-KBX previously flew with the Royal Netherlands Air Force / Government of the Netherlands as a VIP transport aircraft as PH-KBX and was acquired by Alliance in 2017.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 21 August, Flight One (Services) Beech B200 King Air VH-FON flew up from Archerfield and the Sunshine Coast to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site and back.

Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQI flew up from Maryborough Airport to Rockhampton Airport before heading out to Middlemount Aerodrome and back to Rocky.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 23 August, VH-TQI departed Rockhampton Airport for Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

Fellow Seair Pacific / Istelcote De Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF flew up to Labona from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 23 August, VH-ZKF departed Labona for Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

And Microflite Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-8MF visited the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour from Melbourne (Moorabbin).

Photos taken by Travis Whiting and John Lee  ©

Former Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) - Now Canadian Registered De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter C-GSGP - Calls into Mackay Airport

On Tuesday 9 August, a great sight for local plane spotters with Canadian registered De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter C-GSGP spotted soon after it arrived from Mareeba.  At the time of writing it appears that C-GSGP will be staying for at least the night at Mackay Airport.

The Twin Otter has only recently entered the Canadian National Aviation Registry as C-GSGP registered to Sander Geophysics Limited of Ottawa.  It had previously been registered to P2-MFB and was operated by the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Papua New Guinea.

It was one of two Twin Otters (pictured above) that had been put up for sale stored at Mareeba.  The other is DHC-6-200 P2-MFU.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 10 August, C-GSGP departed Mackay Airport for Toowoomba and Orange in New South Wales.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 9 August, a couple of nice corporate bizjets were noted also visiting Mackay Airport.

Recently registered Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 VH-HQK visited Mackay Airport from Dubbo.

It appears that VH-HQK was only delivered into Australia via Darwin at the end of July.

While Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY made an early departure for Chinchilla Aerodrome and then Archerfield.  It had arrived the previous day from Melbourne (Moorabbin), Melbourne (Essendon), Miles and Dalby Airports.

And a medical evacuation bizjet in the form of  LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" visited Longreach Airport, arriving from Townsville and Mount Isa and later departing to Brisbane.

NOTE!  We will now incorporate LifeFlight bizjet visits into these daily digests as opposed to writing a separate post for each visit!

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 9 August, Southern Air Beech 1900 VH-VSO flew up to Moranbah Airport once again from West Sale and Bourke on its weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight.  It later returned down there and ended up at Melbourne (Moorabbin).

DeGunst Transport P/L Textron (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-NPZ completed its weekly FIFO run from Bundaberg Airport to Nebo Aerodrome, this time with a stop at Mackay Airport.

Seair Pacific / Istlecote Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TQI popped into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It arrived from Lady Elliot Island and departed to Townsville.

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-XDW flew up to Labona also from Wellcamp.  It is due to return to Wellcamp early on Wednesday 10 August.

Finally, also on Tuesday 9 August, Landsur (Landair Surveys) / Inbound Aviation (Victoria) Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68C VH-OAV was noted completing an aerial survey flight out of and back to Roma Airport as "Survey 24".  It had flown into Roma Airport from Toowoomba over the weekend.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 10 August, VH-OAV departed Roma Airport for Tyabb.

Photos taken by 'TM', Jonathan Williams and Lee Holloway  ©

The Old Station Fly-in and Heritage Show 2022 at Raglan - Many Photos from a Wonderful Long Weekend!

What a wonderful long weekend!

The Old Station Fly-in and Heritage Show at Raglan was held over the long weekend of Friday 27 May to Sunday 29 May, with 1000's of people from all over the region in attendance over the three days enjoying the sights and sounds as over 200 aircraft and helicopters flew in from all parts of Queensland and interstate! There was also an impressive truck show, some classic cars, and plenty of new and old machinery. Meanwhile, the tractor pulling was extremely popular with big crowds enjoying the action during the weekend!

The entire weekend was hosted by the Creed Family and the Old Station Flying Club. There was support from numerous sponsors and various charity organisations, along with other local flying groups, who not only had their aircraft on display, but also assisted with the ground marshalling, parking all the visiting aircraft and helicopters.

Most aircraft had arrived by Friday with pilots enjoying dinner and entertainment on Friday night.  From early on Saturday, one of biggest crowds seen at the Old Station Farm came to and wandered amongst the visiting aircraft (with even more arrivals!) and enjoyed car and truck displays, market stalls, various machinery and of course, the tractor pulling!

For most of the weekend, the crowd was entertained by some spectacular Warbirds which operated regular aerobatic joyflights out of the Old Station.  

Paul Bennet Airshows had all their 'regular' aircraft in attendance - plus their merchandise truck!

Inverted Downunder / Matt Hall Racing Extra EA-300L VH-IOG and MX Aircraft MXS VH-CQE also operated several aerobatic joyflights during the weekend.

Slightly more sedate was Rockhampton Helicopters Robinson R44 helicopter which also operated joyflights over the Old Station and surrounds.

While McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International are always great supporters of the Old Station Fly-in and this time they sent three helicopters - new registered Bell Helicopter Textron 214B-1 Biglifter VH-SUF and Aerospatiale / Eurocopter Dauphins N365JA and N366SR.

During the middle of Saturday afternoon, the crowds settled in for a spectacular airshow which featured aerobatic displays by Paul Bennet Airshows and Australia's own Top Gun pilot Matt Hall.

The skies above the Old Station came alive as the airshow started with a four-ship formation featuring Paul Bennet and Gary Graham in Wolf Pitts Pro VH-PVB and 'new' Edge-540 VH-PBU, along with Matt Hall and Emma McDonald in MX Aircraft MXS VH-CQE and Extra EA-300L VH-IOG.  They then performed a missing-man flight in memory of late Old Station Flying Club president Allan 'Kiwi' Andrew who recently passed away.

This was followed by a patriotic parachute drop from Skydive OZ Cessna U206F VH-OZP with the parachutist accompanied on his descent by Paul Bennet himself in his Wolf Pitts Pro VH-PVB.

Matt Hall and Emma McDonald in MX Aircraft MXS VH-CQE and Extra EA-300L VH-IOG then completed a display with Matt Hall later returning to the skies to complete a spectacular solo display.

The Old Station's own Bell 47G-2A-1 helicopter VH-AKN then took to the sky to complete a spirited display.

It was followed by the unmistakable Grumman TBM-3E Avenger Warbird VH-MML.

And then Paul Bennet returned to the skies putting his Amateur-built Wolf Pitts Pro VH-PVB through its paces with a truly spectacular aerobatic display which had the massive crowds buzzing!

Caboolture-based Commonwealth CA-16 Wirraway Mk3 VH-MFW was next up completing several nice flypasts.

The ever popular North American T-28 Trojan VH-TRO then put on a great display featuring several flypasts.

Performance Aero / Flying Fighters Museum (Brisbane) Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros VH-SIC then completed a spectacular high-speed display.

Rockhampton-based R-Mach Aviation PZL Warszawa-Okecie M-18B Dromader VH-MDR and Ayres S2R Turbine Thrush VH-NFF then put on a great combined handling and then water-bombing and spraying display.

New Zealand Aerospace Industries Ltd CT-4A Airtrainer VH-CTQ then took the skies over Old Station.

And finally, Paul Bennet and Gary Graham in Wolf Pitts Pro VH-PVB and 'new' Edge-540 VH-PBU flew together for the last act of the day. 

In all, a 2-and-a-half hour airshow. 

After the airshow, the people that stayed at the Old Station - including a large amount of on-site campers - were entertained with live music, bonfires and a spectacular fireworks display.

It was a wonderful weekend with most aircraft departing for their home airfields during a cool but clear morning on Sunday.

It should be pointed out that all proceeds from the weekend - from admissions, auctions, food and drink sales, and part of the joyflights - will be given back to all the volunteer associations that assisted with the weekend.  This includes the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) and as always, the CHRS (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Agusta S.P.A. AW139 Helicopter VH-YXR proved again to be a popular visitor on the Saturday after it flew down from Rockhampton Airport as "Rescue 300".

Finally, one other touching tribute to the late Leonie Creed was seen with a lovely gathering area and lookout over the entrance to the farm bearing her name.

We would like to congratulate the Creed Family and the Old Station Flying Club for running yet another very successful weekend! Their hard work and commitment are remarkable and should be heartily congratulated!

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for their help in compiling this article!