VIP Aviation (A.C.T.) / Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Melbourne) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign Bizjet VH-EXG Pops into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 31 October, VIP Aviation (A.C.T.) / Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Melbourne) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-EXG arrived into Mackay Airport from Brisbane before then departing to Archerfield and Melbourne (Essendon).

File photo

And Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR visited Moranbah Airport from its Brisbane base.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 31 October, American Registered but Australian based Pilatus PC-12/47E N81DW flew up to Mackay Airport from Adelaide.  It later departed to the Sunshine Coast.

Austrek Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-ZMW arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba and Goondiwindi then departed back to Toowoomba. 

While re-registered Townsville Airlines Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville and then departed to Mackay Airport and back North.  This was the former Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) registered aircraft that looks to have been re-registered in June this year.

And Mackay based Cessna R172K VH-SPW visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from the Marian Airfield.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-FMZ Spotted at Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 21 January, Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FMZ was spotted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.

It touched down from Mareeba and Lizard Island and later departed back to Mareeba.

While over on the mainland, Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY was photographed departing the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

It had earlier arrived from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and later departed back there but via Adelaide (Parafield).

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 21 January, Malaysia-based Amateur-built Van's RV-6A VH-PNQ passed through Emerald Airport while heading South from Atherton and Charters Towers Aerodromes to Chinchilla and then Southport Aerodromes.

While Aerometrex Vulcanair (Partenavia) VH-EPX continues to operate in the region, completing aerial survey operations during a flight up from Gladstone Airport to Mackay Airport.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 22 January, VH-EPX returned to Gladstone Airport from Mackay Airport.

Bunderra Cattle Co Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-KNV departed Rockhampton Airport for Rolleston Aerodrome and then the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It later returned to Rockhampton Airport.

Of interest, it appears VH-KNV also flew to Archerfield and back to Rockhampton Airport on Friday 20 January.

Lane Aviation / Team Aviation Cirrus SR22 VH-YQF flew from its Archerfield base to Rockhampton, Mackay and Hamilton Sland Airports.  It then returned to Mackay Airport and then back to Archerfield.

And the visiting Seair Pacific (Istlecote) operated Found Aircraft Canada FBA-2C Bush Hawk XP VH-OOB departed Rockhampton Airport for the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.  It had arrived the previous day see Blog post below.

VH-OOB was photographed above resting in the early morning sun at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday morning.

Finally, also on Saturday 21 January, the visiting Papua New Guinea (PNG) registered (to Heli-Niugini) Bell 206L LongRanger helicopter P2-HNJ also departed Rockhampton Airport but for the Sunshine Coast and ports South before ending the day at Wedderburn in Victoria.

It too had arrived into Rockhampton Airport the previous day and was also spotted resting in the early morning sun on Saturday.

And Coral Coast Helicopters (Marian) Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm MBB BO105 CB-5 helicopter VH-FUB flew up from Caboolture and Caloundra to land at Rockhampton Airport before later departing to Mackay Airport.

Photos taken by Nick Sainsbury and Trevor Hardsman  ©

Airwolf Aviation (Marian) / South Coast Aerial Services (Victoria) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-SJD Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

Over the weekend, Airwolf Aviation (Marian) / South Coast Aerial Services (Victoria) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-SJD was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

Hadleigh Wigg / https://flightaware.com/

On Saturday 11 December, it arrived from Walgett having arrived there the previous even from its Peterborough base via Warrnambool. VH-SJD then departed to the North-West before returning later on the day.

Then on Sunday 12 December, VH-SJD departed Rockhampton Airport for Roma Airport before continuing to Renmark, Adelaide and Narracorte all in South Australia.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 12 December, BPW Aviation / Airspeed Aviation of Scone, New South Wales, Cessna 404 Titan VH-SKV arrived into Mackay Airport from Tamworth. It the departed Mackay Airport to Archerfield and then back to Tamworth.

Finally, also on Saturday 11 December, Kibble Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-PID flew South from Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and looked to return to its Toowoomba base.  It had flown up there back on Friday 3 December.

Local Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 Bizjet N142GZ Out and Back and Out Again at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 4 June, the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was noted departing its Mackay Airport Base for Brisbane.

File photo

During the early part of the afternoon, N142GZ returned to Mackay Airport from the capital.

N142GZ then departed Mackay Airport once again and again flew to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 6 June, N142GZ was noted flying into Mackay Airport from Brisbane.  It then completed another return flight to and from Brisbane, finishing the day back 'home' at Mackay Airport!

Meanwhile, also early on Tuesday 4 June, locally-based (Marian) Airwolf Aviation Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-SJD was noted departing Mackay Airport for Bourke in New South Wales and ports further South.

And New South Wales-based Handel Aviation Cessna 210N Centurion VH-ZIO was noted operating out of Mackay Airport on aerial survey flights also on Tuesday 4 June.  It later headed to Rockhampton Airport.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Great Photos from Mackay Airport Sunday - Jetstar A320 VH-VFL Little Athletics - Mustang VH-MFT

For the last few days, a couple of great Jetstar Airways Airbus A320s have called into Mackay Airport operating scheduled services into the sugar city from Brisbane.

Most notably, Airbus A320 VH-VFL - which is currently wearing an attractive 'Little Athletics' livery - has called into Mackay each day over the last few days.  It was captured passing through Mackay Airport on Sunday 26 April operating the JST882/883 service from and back to Brisbane.

Jetstar has applied the special livery on VH-VFL to kick off a sponsorship deal with Little Athletics Australia.  As part of the two-year naming rights partnership, decals featuring the image of two Little Athletics participants have been applied, along with the words “Helping Little Aths reach for the stars” and the Little Athletics logo.

Another interesting Jetstar A320 in the form of VH-XSJ also continues to call into Mackay over recent days and was captured visiting one recent afternoon as JST888/889, again operating from and back to Brisbane.

Also, Jetstar is retro-fitting the sharklets to some of their newer A320s with VH-VFL and VH-XSJ the only two aircraft done so far.

Finally, I've received some great photos of the visiting Caboolture-based CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang VH-MFT 'Snifter' which has been visiting Mackay over the weekend.

VH-MFT was spotted operating joyflights out of Mackay Airport and the nearby Palmyra and Marian Airstrips on Sunday 26 April.

UPDATE!  It looks like VH-MFT has returned to Caboolture after operating more joyflights during Monday 27 April.

Also of note at Palmyra Airstrip was the Mackay Aero Club's monthly flying competition.  From all accounts and photos posted on Facebook, it looked like a very nice day for flying!

Thanks to the Mackay plane spotters for sharing their awesome photos of some awesome visitors!

Photos taken by 'AC' and Mike Manning  ©