Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP Helicopter VH-VAU Spotted Operating for Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 12 July, a couple of nice photos have been shared to us of the Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP helicopter VH-VAU now currently operating for the locally-based Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) out of Rockhampton Airport - complete with titles!  Nice!

As mentioned below, the much-travelled rescue helicopter had been previously working from Horn Island as "Rescue 700" and left there to Rockhampton Airport - via a few stops - back in March.

While during the afternoon, Nautilus Aviation Bell Helicopter Textron 212 water bombing helicopter VH-T53 arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Redcliffe and Bundaberg Airports.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 13 July, VH-T53 departed Rockhampton Airport for Mackay Airport and points further North.  The big Huey helicopter was photographed at Cairns Airport (as above) later in the week.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 12 July, American-registered but seemingly Australian-based Pilatus PC-12/47E (NG) N175NG landed at Degunnie from Archerfield and Augathella and then departed back to Archerfield.

Emma McDonald in her American registered Edge 540 N540MH departed Rockhampton Airport to Goondiwindi.

A bit later locally-based R-Mach Aviation's Lancair 4 VH-VIE departed Rockhampton Airport also to Goondiwindi before continuing to Lake Macquarie and Leongatha.

While Cirrus (Australia) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-NFP landed at Longreach Airport from Dubbo before later departing to Horn Island.

UPDATE!  VH-NFP flew South from Horn Island to Mackay Airport and then Melbourne (Essendon) on Friday 18 July.

And Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-87X flew up from Sydney to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying down to Melbourne (Essendon) and then back to Sydney.

Photos taken by Darren Massie and Jonathan Williams  ©

After a Week of Aerial Surveying American-registered Beechcraft B300 King Air 350 N35GA Departs Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 6 June, American-registered Beechcraft B300 King Air 350 N35GA departed Rockhampton Airport for Darwin.  It had arrived into Rocky from Darwin at the beginning of the week and spent the last few days completing aerial survey flights over the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).  

Indeed reports suggest that the Super King Air is operated on behalf of the United States Department of Defence - United States Army.

While Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-ZSY as "Machflight 11" visited Rockhampton Airport again.  It arrived from Cairns via Townsville and then departed to Cairns, 

NSW based CJF Pastoral Company Textron T206H VH-KWX arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and then departed to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport. 

And Emma McDonald's Zivko Edge 540 V2 N540MH flew a flight out to the North East and back to Rockhampton Airport. 

Finally, also on Friday 6 June, Brenzil Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Bankstown and Brisbane.  It then flew down to Archerfield and Sydney.

And Edwards Coaches Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-KXL flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Armidale and Sydney.  It later returned to Armidale.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©

Some Photos from Saturday at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport

The second of three public days at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport on Saturday 2 March played host to an estimated 100,000 visitors, who I reckon were all left very satisfied with the magnificent flying program and static displays.

In fact, should they have desired, members of the public could take a flight around Avalon Airport in one of Professional Helicopter Services choppers that were constantly flying around the Eastern edge of the Airport.

By the time the flying display started, most of the visiting corporate bizjets had moved on to other ports – as shown by Embraer Lineage 1000 PT-TOE which was being towed to the runway for the short hop to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.

The flying display started with an overfly of three antique aircraft from Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) Museum at Point Cook.  CAC CA-25 Winjeel VH-PTS (A85-439) was joined by a pair of New Zealand Aerospace CT-4A training aircraft – VH-CTK (A19-040) and VH-NZP (A19-077).

Another antique aircraft in the form of Douglas DC-3C VH-AES which is based at, and maintained at, the Qantas hangar at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.  VH-AES wears Trans-Australia Airways (TAA) colours.

Then the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina VH-PBZ "Felix" (The Black Cat) displayed before a more recent RAAF maritime aircraft in the form of Lockheed AP-3C Orion A9-755 performed its solo routine.

Aerobatic displays consisted of Skip Stewart in his Pitts S-2S Special N540S.

He was later joined again by Melissa Pemberton in Zivco Edge 540 VH-IIG, who both, along with the pyrotechnic wizardry of Rich Gibson, then put on their "Tinstix of Dynamite" show of spectacular multiple head-on passes accompanied by up to a dozen explosions.

Later, Bob Charleton in his Start and Flug H-101 Salto N101AZ put on a display of silent flight, before he fired the little engine on the Salto to put on a full aerobatic display.

The aerobatics of these aircraft were no match though for the RAAF Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet A44-216 which put on a stunning single-ship display.

The RAAF “Rhino” performance might have been outdone though by the United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor aerobatic handling display, which was very well received by the awe-inspired crowd.

The pace slowed a little as three Temora Aviation Museum aircraft put on a display.  CAC CA-13 Boomerang VH-MHR took off first.

It was joined by the Museum’s  Gloster Meteor VH-MBX and Commonwealth CA-27 MK 32 Sabre VH-IPN.

After this antique threesome, Curtis P-40N Kittyhawk VH-ZOC departed and also put on a stirring aerial display.

Australia's own 'Top Gun', former RAAF Fighter Combat Instructor, Matt Hall, put on a truly amazing and spectacular aerobatics display in his MXS-R aircraft VH-CQE.

After Matt returned he was introduced to the crowd – just as the RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-206 completed its display.

The display I was looking forward to though was the USAF General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16 92-3894 which put on an absolutely fantastic solo flight.

The display was extended by a late go-around by the F-16 due to strong crosswinds on short final.

The Temora Museum’s Lockheed 414 Hudson VH-KOY then arrived and also put on a stirring display.  It had attempted to land yesterday but was forced to divert to Point Cook due to the strong cross winds.

RAAF Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules A97-468 flew down to Avalon from Richmond Air Force Base near Sydney, and completed several passes – complete with the load master waving to the crowd from the back door!

It completed its brief display by performing a touch-and-go off a steep tactical approach.  It then returned to Richmond – some 6 hours of flying during the afternoon!

RAAF formation flying wrapped up the flying program with the “Roulettes” - the elite formation aerobatic display team of the RAAF and their Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft - believed to have flown in from their East Sale base to perform over the Airshow.

The six “Roulettes” broke into a flight of four and two and put on some fantastic aerobatic flying.  Eventually all six came together for a final pass before they all (plus the spare aircraft “Roulette 7”) touched down at Avalon for the weekend.

  

A flight of four RAAF Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornetts (Rhinos) wrapped up the flying program with their formation flying routine, followed by simulated airfield attack which culminated with a pyrotechnics display.

Overall, I had an absolutely fantastic time at Avalon.  This was the first Australian International Airshow that I have attended, and I thought it was thoroughly and professionally organised, with some absolutely stunning static and flying display aircraft.  Well done to all involved – I look forward to coming back in 2015!