Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ "Navair 173" Calls into a Couple of CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Wednesday 6 September, Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ as "Navair 173" flew into the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Townsville before it then flew down to Rockhampton Airport and then Archerfield. It had flown North from Archerfield the previous day.

File photo

Austrek Aviation Beech B200 Super King Air VH-ZGD visited Moura Aerodrome from Toowoomba.

And Helicorp (of Essendon in Victoria) Bell 412EP VH-LWF landed at Charleville Airport after flying up from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.  It then continued to Winton and points to the North-West.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 7 September, VH-LWF was noted arriving into RAAF Base Tindal at Katherine and then Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 6 September, MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC visited Labona from the Sunshine Coast.

Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ made a late arrival into Rockhampton Airport from Dalby.  It then looked to fly down to Sydney and then to Archerfield.

Finally, also on Wednesday 6 September, through the morning and early afternoon a lot of Western Australia based lighties landed at Longreach Airport from Birdsville. These included Bonanza VH-LRP, Baron VH-OVP, Trinidad VH-LQC, Jabiru 19-4046, Vans RV14s VH-FNE and VH-IFC, Vans RV7s VH-VTL, VH-OCH, VH-UWF and VH-MRV, Cessna 172 VH-ZDR, Saratoga VH-LPW, Vans RV8 VH-TZK and Vans RV6 VH-DUO. 

Also noted arriving into Longreach Airport were New South Wales based Beech Duchess VH-BFP, Cessna 182 VH-SHN and Cessna 172 VH-WYZ which all arrived from Roma Airport, plus Saratoga VH-LTC which arrived from the Gold Coast. 

UPDATE!  On Thursday 7 September, the NSW aircraft at Longreach Airport departed there to Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Friday 8 September, the WA aircraft at Longreach Airport departed there to Boulia. Another one in that group was Cessna 182 VH-UCV for a total of 15.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Fraser Coast Wings and Wheels Takes Off at Maryborough Airport on Saturday

On Saturday 1 August, the Fraser Coast region turned on clear but cloudy skies as a good crowd turned out to enjoy the sights and sounds at the third annual Fraser Coast Wings and Wheels at the Maryborough Airport.

The event was hosted by the Maryborough Aero Club, and in conjunction with local car and motorcycle clubs, saw the day comprise a combined a car and motor bike show with an aircraft fly-in featuring, warbirds and other aircraft.

Other entertainment for the crowd included market stalls, food and drinks, along with music and plenty of entertainment for the kids!

It certainly looked like a lovely day at Maryborough and we sincerely thank David G for allow us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by David Geck  ©

Special Visitors at Longreach and Charleville Airports as the Smith Centenary Celebration Flight Participants Pass Through CQ This Week!

On Tuesday 10 March, a special group of ultralight aircraft were noted calling into Longreach Airport as a part of a special transcontinental commemorative flight.  After spending the night, they departed to Charleville Airport on Wednesday 11 March and have eventually continued to Caboolture Aerodrome near Brisbane.

During the month of March, groups of light, historic and ultralight aircraft will make their way from Darwin to Adelaide.  This will celebrate the centenary of the transcontinental flight by Ross and Keith Smith, James Bennett and Walter Shiers across Australia in 1919-20, in their Vickers Vimy aircraft.

The Smiths and their crew had flown from England to Darwin in November and December 1919. This daring feat was sensational news world-wide, but the flight across Australia was equally important. It awakened Australia to the potential of air transport: within a year QANTAS, the second oldest continually operating airline in the world, was established, and Australia is one of the most air-minded countries in the world.

The 2020 celebration flight across Australia will be led by two ultra-modern aircraft. Michael Smith flew his Chaika LLC L65 Sea Bear amphibious aircraft VH-OMS from England to Australia in November-December last year, arriving in Darwin for the hundredth anniversary of the Vimy’s arrival. The Northern Territory Government and local aviation enthusiasts welcomed the Sea Bear’s arrival in Darwin, and Michael is returning to take part in the celebratory flight across Australia. Michael Coates will be flying an ultralight Pipistrel VIRUS SW 121 aircraft VH-LEC that is at the cutting edge of fuel-efficient technology.

A couple of other aircraft joined the flight on the sector between Longreach and Charleville Airports including Progressive Aerodyne Searey LSX Amphibians VH-XWW and VH-ZOY, and Jabiru 430 VH-EDJ.

The route chosen for the 2020 flight largely follows the route used by the Vimy, with a few additions to visit places of special interest in the history of Australian aviation. As well as the group of aircraft making the whole journey, other aircraft are welcome to join for part of the journey. The event will culminate in a major fly-in to Adelaide airports on the weekend of Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March, and it is expected that many aircraft will take part in this.

The event has been in planning for the past two years. It is a vast co-operative undertaking, with voluntary and enthusiastic involvement by all concerned. The Aviation Historical Society of Australia (NSW) has served as communications hub.

As the planning enters its final stage, a final itinerary is being issued. However, it must be realised that the light aircraft participating are particularly affected by weather conditions. The emphasis of all concerned is on safety, and it may be necessary to alter the itinerary if bad weather occurs. The AHSA NSW website will have constantly updated information, and some aircraft will have tracking devices which can be accessed by the internet. An expert meteorologist and pilot has estimated that we have better than an 80% chance of carrying out the itinerary basically as specified, and there are provisions for catch-up days if needed.

A full pilots handbook will be issued early February, but any aircraft owners and pilots who are interested in participating are advised to make contact with AHSA as soon as possible. Numbers of participants are limited in some places.

The itinerary in brief is Darwin, Emkaytee Airfield (home of the Top End Flying Club), Katherine,  Daly Waters, the AACo stations of Anthony Lagoon, Brunette Downs and Avon Downs, Cloncurry, Longreach, Charleville, Caboolture, Bourke, Narromine, Richmond or Luskintyre, Shellharbour (HARS, Albion Park), Temora, Cootamundra, Benalla, Lilydale or Little River airports, Nhill, Gawler (Adelaide) and Aldinga (Adelaide) on Sunday 22 March.

Follow the progress of the flight at:  http://ahsansw.com

Inaugural Fraser Coast Wings and Wheels Takes Off at Maryborough Airport Also on Saturday

Also on Saturday 11 August, the Fraser Coast region turned on equally brilliant weather as a big crowd turned out to enjoy the sights and sounds at the inaugural Fraser Coast Wings and Wheels at the Maryborough Airport.

The event was hosted by the Maryborough Aero Club, in conjunction with the Maryborough Ford Car Club, and combined a car and motor bike show with an aircraft fly-in featuring, warbirds and model aircraft.

Aerotec Queensland flew two of their star attraction aircraft from their Toowoomba base in the form of North American T-28B Trojan VH-ZUK and Pacific Aerospace (PAC) CT-4E VH-CTZ.

Entertainment for all ages included warbird adventure flights, market stalls, music as well as plenty of entertainment for the kids!

It certainly looked like a lovely day at Maryborough and we sincerely thank local plane spotter Dave D along with and the team at Maryborough Aviation Services for allow us to share these great photos!

Maryborough Aviation Services provide regular updates on their great Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/Maryborough-Aviation-Services/

Photos taken by Dave Deem and Maryborough Aviation Services  ©