Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 - Monday's Action at Rockhampton Airport

A fantastic days spotting for aviation enthusiasts and visitors at Rockhampton Airport on Monday 18 July was highlighted by the arrival three Lockheed C-130 Hercules and three Boeing C-17A Globemaster transport aircraft in the evening.

There were as many as six various model Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft in the air over Shoalwater Bay during the afternoon. They were various Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) models. They were heard flying in from Richmond Air Force Base (near Sydney) using various callsigns such as "Warrior 20" (which was a flight of two RAAF C-130H Hercules), "Trojan 11", "Trojan 12", "Trojan 45", and "Trojan 55".

Most of the "Trojan" aircraft were believed to be USAF Hercules aircraft, with at least Lockheed MC-130H Hercules 84-0476 and 83-1212, and Lockheed MC-130P Hercules 69-5826 all noted in the air.

Most of the aircraft later returned directly to Richmond AFB, but three eventually landed at Rockhampton. Pictured below are A97-006 arriving as "Warrior 22", and A97-007 arriving as "Warrior 20". These aircraft flew up to Shaolwater Bay together.



Just after the sun went down USAF Lockheed MC-130P Hercules 69-5826 arrived as "Trojan 55". It left around 7pm for Richmond.


By far the highlight of the day and night though was the arrival and departure of three USAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft. These three Globemasters were all involved in the mass parachute drop the previous day, but this time picked up a load of soldiers each and departed to the North-East.

03-3124 used the callsign "Reach 775"



02-1111 used the callsign "Reach 526"



00-0180 used the callsign "Reach 146"



A small crowd gathered to watch the action, which was also being watched over by several military police officers and police dogs. The last C-17 took-off around 10.30pm making the night one to remember.

Earlier in the day, more helicopter sorties to and from Rockhampton Airport were highlighted by the arrival of two more Australian Army Commonwealth CA-32 (Bell 206B/OH-58A) Kiowa helicopters. The Kiowas arrived from and later departed to the South as “Knights Red”. Pictured below are A17-054 and A17-040.



Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky S-70B/SH-60 Seahawk N24-005 also popped in for a visit. The Seahawk also arrived from and later departed to the South as "Tiger 74".



RAN Westland Mk.50A Sea Kings N16-125 "Shark 10" and N16-239 "Shark 21" also operated out of Rockhampton Airport, flying sorties to the North of the Airport.

Other Movements at Rockhampton Airport on Monday – Fog Diversions From Emerald

Seemingly caused by low level fog, four aircraft from Brisbane destined for Emerald Airport were forced to divert to Rockhampton Airport early on Monday 18 July.

Two QantasLink (Sunstate Airlines) Dash-8-Q400 flights diverted, with VH-QOW touching down very early as QF2400, and then VH-QOE touching down later as QF2410. Pictured below are VH-QOE on arrival, while VH-QOW is pictured departing around 10am just after Emerald Airport reopened.



VH-QOW still wears a colour scheme promoting Taronga Zoo and Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo.

There were also two fly-in fly-out charter flights that were forced to divert to Rockhampton, with Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQL arriving as SKP860, while Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-FWH arrived as UTY2240.



As shown below, with the usual RPT movements, as well as military movements and the Singapore Airlines Flying College Cessna Citation Mustang visitors, Rockhampton was a very busy little regional airport!

Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 - Sunday's Action at Rockhampton Airport

Sunday 17 July - Well today was the day - the United States Air Force (USAF) mass parachute drop over Central Queensland occured West of Rockhampton this morning. This will hopefully be the start of a lot more 'action' as Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 continues over the next two weeks.

Unfortunately, for spotters and visitors to Rockhampton Airport, the drop went perfectly and the four USAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft that were involved bypassed Rockhampton and landed at Amberley Airforce Base near Brisbane. However, one of the C-17s involved ended up making an appearance at Rockhampton Airport late in the afternoon.

Pictured below is USAF C-17 05-5148 (Hickam AFB tail stripe) arriving from Amberley and later departing as "Slew 99".






Another interesting USAF aircraft in the form of Lockheed MC-130P Hercules 69-5832 was believed to have visited Williamson Airfield - which is with the Shoalwater Bay Training Area - this afternoon. The Hercules was using the callsign "Warrior 10" and arrived from and departed to Richmond Air Force Base, West of Sydney.

Also at Rockhampton Airport on Sunday 17 July was United States Marine Corps (USMC) Lockheed KC-130J, 168066 (Tail Code QD-066) of the VMGR-152 Unit arrived from and departed back to the North as "Sumo 86".



Of the Australian Defence Forces, most movements were again from the numerous helicopters parked at Rockhampton Airport. There was one exception though, with Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky S-70B/SH-60 Seahawk N24-016 arrived from and departed to the South as "Tiger 85".




Other notable helicopter movements were from 2 formations of Townsville-based Australian Army Sikorsky S70A-9 Blackhawk helicopters.

Pictured below is "Warhorse Black" which consisted of A25-107 and A25-203.



Pictured below making its arrival in the last light of the day is "Warhorse Blue" which consisted of A25-222, A25-206, A25-224.





Lastly, there were a couple of notable civilian movements at Rockhampton Airport on Sunday 17 July as well.

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWM finally departed to Brisbane empty as "Unity 991" after breaking down two days ago.


The aircraft flew to Brisbane with its gear lowered and locked and maintained a lower and slower cruise.

Meanwhile, pictured below shortly after it touched down is Bell 212 PK-IWU. The big Huey certainly made an impression after it arrived with a several Australian Army personnel noted having a look over the chopper.


After taking on fuel, it departed to the North.

Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 - Saturday at Rockhampton Airport - Charters Galore!

Under gloomy skies, there were a couple interesting charter arrivals at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 16 July.

Around lunchtime, Boeing B737-3YO VH-INU, which is operated by Our Airline of Nauru (Nauru Air Corporation) arrived and departed. The B737 was on charter and operated as RON901/900, using the callsign "Air Nauru".



The aircraft features the lovely blue colour scheme of Our Airline, and also features the titles of Air Kiribati.

Information suggests this particular aircraft also visited Rockhampton earlier in the week late on Wednesday 13 July.

Meanwhile just after the sun had set, Qantas Boeing B767-338(ER) VH-OGN arrived from and later departed to the South as QFA1358/6159.


Unfortunately, due to a broken down Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWM (pictured below) blocking the 'usual' heavy jet Gate 6, the B767 was forced to park on Taxiway Julliete at Rockhampton due to other taxiway restrictions.


Of the military aircraft movements on Saturday 16 July, there was a spectacular departure of a flight of five Australian Army Commonwealth CA-32 (Bell 206B/OH-58A) Kiowa helicopters to Shoalwater Bay as "Redback Black". The five Kiowas are pictured below departing in front a good crowd of interested spectators along Canoona Road.

A17-028


A17-031


A17-051


A17-038


A17-014


Lastly, just before dusk, two different arrivals pictured below in the form of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air A32-671 (38 Squadron) arriving as "Dingo 29", and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Westland Sea King Mk.50A N16-239 arriving as "Shark 21".




As the photos show, it was certainly a busy airport with these military arrivals coinciding with the usual commercial movements.