The Nine RoKAF Black Eagles KAI T-50B Jets - Plus C-130 Hercules Transport Aircraft - All Depart Rockhampton Airport for Darwin and then Home to South Korea

As expected, on Saturday 11 March, the visiting deployment of The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) "Black Eagles" aerobatic team departed Rockhampton Airport for Darwin via Cairns and RAAF Base Tindal at Katherine, as they continued their journey home to South Korea from Avalon Airport where they participated at the recently completed Australian International Airshow.

As with their arrival the previous day, the Black Eagles' nine KAI T-50B trainers departed in spectacular fashion, flying in three-ship formations as "Bravo Echo 01/04/07".

A little later, the RoKAF Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules 45-750 as "Argo 102" also departed Rockhampton Airport but directly to Tindal before continuing to Darwin.

And C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 "Argo 103" also departed Rockhampton Airport but for Darwin.

Of interest, the third RoKAF Lockheed C1-30J-30 Hercules 45-747 "Argo 101" was heard to also (possibly) fly into Darwin up via inland Queensland.

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for providing us with such a great coverage of the arrival of these awesome visitors to the region!

Photos taken by Jake Wallace and Daniel Bishop  ©

The RoKAF Black Eagles Arrive Back into Rockhampton Airport After Avalon Airshow - 9 KAI T-50B Jets and 2 C-130 Hercules

On Friday 10 March, The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) "Black Eagles" aerobatic team arrived back into Rockhampton Airport for another overnight stop while heading home to South Korea after participating in the Australian International Airshow.

A total of nine of the team's KAI T-50B trainers landed at Rockhampton Airport after flying up from RAAF Base Williamtown.  They had flown into there from Melbourne (Avalon) the previous day.

The T-50B jets travelled in three flights as "Bravo Echo 01/04/07" and carry the military serial numbers of 10-0052, 10-0059, 15-0084, 10-0053, 10-0055, 10-0051, 10-0058, 10-0060, and 10-0057.

The aircraft will depart Saturday morning for Mount Isa and then Darwin before then continuing home to South Korea over the coming days.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 11 March, the Black Eagles departed Rockhampton Airport for Cairns, RAAF Base Tindal (Katherine) and Darwin.

Meanwhile, arriving into Rockhampton Airport late on Thursday 9 March, was RoKAF C-130J-30 45-750 "Argo 102" after flying up directly from Avalon.  It was photographed still parked in the rain early on Friday 10 March.

And during the early evening, also on Friday 10 March, RoKAF Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 as "Argo 101" also arrived into Rockhampton Airport, also directly from Avalon.

It is expected that both Hercs will also depart on Saturday 11 March, with one possibly following the Black Eagles to Mount Isa Cairns and Tindal while the other is expected to fly up to Darwin.

The Black Eagles Aerobatic Team originally left an air base in Wonju, 130 kilometres east of Seoul, midway through February. It is the first time they have travelled to Australia to participate in the biennial Australian International Airshow and Aerospace Defence Exposition which has just been held at Avalon Airport in Geelong.

For the show, the Korean Air Force has mobilized some 120 personnel, including 11 pilots, as well as the nine T-50B supersonic jets and three C-130 transport aircraft.

Of interest, The Republic of Korea Air Force aerobatic team was formed on December 12, 1994, and flew six Cessna A-37B Dragonfly airplanes.  It disbanded temporarily after the 2007 Seoul Air Show and reformed upon the arrival of the new T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft, codenamed T-50B, in 2010.

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for providing us with such a great coverage of the arrival of these awesome visitors to the region!

Photos taken by Scott Harris, Trevor Hardsman, and Jake Wallace  ©

Great Photos as The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 "Argo 103" Departs Rockhampton Airport

After arriving the previous day, on Tuesday 21 February, The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 was photographed resting early in the morning still parked up at Rockhampton Airport.  

As posted below, it had arrived from Darwin as "Argo 103".

The Hercules later departed Rockhampton Airport for RAAF Base Richmond again as "Argo 103" before then joining the other two RoKAF C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft - 45-747 as "Argo 101" and 45-750 "Argo 102" - at Melbourne (Avalon).

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 22 February, all three Hercs departed Avalon for Darwin, presumably returning to South Korea.

As mentioned previously, the three RoKAF Hercs have come to Australia to support the deployment of RoKAF "Black Eagles" aerobatic team which had earlier departed Rockhampton Airport for RAAF Base Richmond and ultimately the Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport in Victoria.

As mentioned below, the RoKAF Black Eagles aerobatic display team has travelled to Australia to participate in the biennial Australian International Airshow and Aerospace Defence Exposition slated to take place at Avalon Airport in Geelong from February 28 to March 5.

Sincere thanks again to the local plane spotters for providing us with such a great coverage of the arrival of these awesome visitors to the region!

Photos taken by Trevor Hardsman and Scott Harris  ©

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 "Argo 103" Arrives into Rockhampton Airport

On Monday 20 February, The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Darwin as "Argo 103".

This is the second of three RoKAF Hercs that have also come to Australia to support the deployment of RoKAF "Black Eagles" aerobatic team which had earlier departed Rockhampton Airport for RAAF Base Richmond and ultimately the Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport in Victoria.

As posted below, RoKAF Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules 45-747 as "Argo 101" had also earlier departed Rockhampton Airport for Richmond.  While the third, fellow C-130J-30 45-750 "Argo 102" flew down from Darwin to Richmond(?) during the day.

It is expected that 55-030 "Argo 103" will depart Rockhampton Airport late morning on Tuesday 21 February.

As mentioned below, the RoKAF Black Eagles aerobatic display team has travelled to Australia to participate in the biennial Australian International Airshow and Aerospace Defence Exposition slated to take place at Avalon Airport in Geelong from February 28 to March 5.

Sincere thanks again to the local plane spotters for providing us with such a great coverage of the arrival of these awesome visitors to the region!

Photos taken by Jake Wallace  ©

The Nine RoKAF Black Eagles KAI T-50B Jets - Plus C-130J Hercules - Depart Rockhampton Airport for RAAF Base Richmond

As predicted, on Monday 20 February, the visiting deployment of The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force (RoKAF) "Black Eagles" aerobatic team departed Rockhampton Airport for RAAF Base Richmond as they continued their journey to Melbourne, Avalon Airport where they will participate in the upcoming Australian International Airshow.

As with their arrival the previous evening, the Black Eagles' nine KAI T-50B trainers departed in spectacular fashion, flying in three- ship formations as "Bravo Echo 01/04/07"

A little later, the RoKAF Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules 45-747 as "Argo 101" also departed Rockhampton Airport for Richmond.

It is believed that fellow C-130J-30 45-750 "Argo 102" flew down from Darwin to Richmond(?) during the day as another C-130H-30 Hercules 55-030 "Argo 103" flew across from Darwin to also land at Rockhampton Airport - see Blog post above!

As mentioned below, the RoKAF Black Eagles aerobatic display team has travelled to Australia to participate in the biennial Australian International Airshow and Aerospace Defence Exposition slated to take place at Avalon Airport in Geelong from February 28 to March 5.

Sincere thanks again to the local plane spotters for providing us with such a great coverage of the arrival of these awesome visitors to the region!

Photos taken by Scott Harris, Trevor Hardsman and Jake Wallace  ©