Ex Hamel 2018 - RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft A34-005 "Wallaby 05" Returns to Rockhampton Airport

During the afternoon on Tuesday 19 June, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-005 was noted flying into Rockhampton Airport from RAAF Base Amberley as "Wallaby 05".

File photo

File photo

It is interesting to note that earlier in the day, A34-005 "Wallaby 05" was joined by fellow RAAF C-27J A34-009 as "Wallaby 09", along with Sytraders Pty Ltd Casa 212-400 turboprop VH-VHB as "Snowbird 4", which was completing parachute work for the Australian Army, operating low level down South-West of Warwick.

As we reported below, on Monday 18 June, a trio of Raytheon Australia / Air Affairs (Australia) Learjets touched down at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from their Nowra base in New South Wales.  On Tuesday 19 June, they all took to the air and completed airwork in Shoalwater Bay before eventually returning to Hervey Bay.

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It is believed that  Learjet 35A VH-ESM was again "Shadow 11" while fellow Learjet 35A VH-SLE and Learjet 36 VH-SLJ flew into formation as "Bosun".

Finally, RAAF Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-005 "Dragon 31" came up from RAAF Base Amberley and operated refuelling exercises within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area with Boeing EA-18G Growlers ("Wolf 11" and "Wolf 21") and RAAF Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets ("Colt").

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Ben May  ©

Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD "Snowbird 1" Departs Gladstone Airport back to Melbourne

As expected, during the late morning on Monday 5 March, Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD "Snowbird 1" departed Gladstone Airport destined for Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport.  The photos below show the smart little A319 being prepared for its departure.

As posted below, it arrived from there on Sunday 4 March.

It's unclear about the reason for VH-VHD's visit, however as we've posted, Skytaders is the provider of specialist air services to the Australian Federal Government. They operate charters to Antarctica and provide transport for refugees / illegal immigrants around Australia and parts of the Pacific.  The Skytraders website can be found at:  http://skytraders.com.au/

All photos taken by Col B  ©

Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD "Snowbird 1" Arrives into Gladstone Airport

On Sunday 4 March, Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD "Snowbird 1" touched down at Gladstone Airport. It arrived from Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport.

VH-VHD was promptly re-fuelled and then closed up for the night.  There is word around that it will depart Gladstone Airport on Monday 5 March.

Skytaders is the provider of specialist air services to the Australian Federal Government. They operate charters to Antarctica and provide transport for refugees / illegal immigrants around Australia and parts of the Pacific.  Sytraders operates a pair of Airbus A319 jets - VH-VHD and VH-VCJ - along with a pair of Casa 212-400 turboprops - VH-VHA and VH-VHB.  The Skytraders website can be found at:  http://skytraders.com.au/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Anthony S for taking the time to capture and share with us these great photos!

All photos taken by Anthony Schulz  ©

Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD "Snowbird 1" Pops into Gladstone Airport

Late on Wednesday 12 April, Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD "Snowbird 1" touched down at Gladstone Airport. It arrived from Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport.

It is assumed that the smart little Airbus was in town to process and transport the detained crew members of a Vietnamese fishing boat that were brought ashore earlier in the day after being spotted fishing illegally near Saumarez Reef off Gladstone last week during an Australian Border Force (ABF) surveillance flight.

VH-VHD was loaded and later departed to Darwin.

Of interest, the Skytraders A319 VH-VHD operated a similar flight into Gladstone Airport in early December 2016 - see Blog post HERE.

Skytaders is the provider of specialist air services to the Australian Federal Government. They operate charters to Antarctica and provide transport for refugees / illegal immigrants around Australia and parts of the Pacific.  The Skytraders website can be found at:  http://skytraders.com.au/

It was a busy night at Gladstone Airport on Wednesday 12 April with an Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 jet and LifeFlight LearJet 45 also touching down - stay tuned for more!

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Michael F for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD "Snowbird 1" Visits Gladstone Airport

A nice arrival into Gladstone Airport on Friday 2 November was Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD "Snowbird 1". It arrived from Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport.

It is assumed that the smart little Airbus was in town to process and transport the detained crew members of a Vietnamese fishing boat that were brought into Gladstone after being spotted fishing illegally in waters about 450km north east of the port city this week during an Australian Border Force (ABF) surveillance flight.

After remaining parked on the ground at Gladstone Airport for most of the day, VH-VHD was loaded and later departed to Sydney.

Of interest, Skytraders is the provider of specialist air services to the Australian Federal Government. They operate charters to Antarctica and provide transport for refugees / illegal immigrants around Australia and parts of the Pacific.

The Skytraders website can be found at:  http://skytraders.com.au/

Photo taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©