Air Link (Dubbo) Beech 1900D VH-RUE Returns to Central Queensland - At Barcaldine Airport

Here's one aircraft that CQ Plane Spotting hasn't seen for a little while!

Air Link Beech 1900D VH-RUE has reportedly spent time at its Dubbo base undergoing maintenance, but has recently returned to service, operating charter flights in New South Wales and from Brisbane to Barcaldine Airport in Central Queensland.

VH-RUE at Emerald Airport in 2012  (File photo)

On Monday 14 October, VH-RUE flew from Brisbane to Barcaldine, while on Thursday 24 October it returned to Barcaldine and flew to Brisbane.

New QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQM Enters Service

QantasLink’s newest Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQM entered service on Friday 18 October operating a return service from Brisbane to Roma.  On Monday 21 October, VH-LQM then operated three return flights out of Brisbane into Central Queensland – one to Gladstone and two to Moranbah.

Almost new VH-LQL at Gladstone Airport recently  (File photos taken by Jamie C  ©)

And VH-LQM looks like it will a regular visitor to Central Queensland – spotters keep an eye out!

Australian Army Boeing CH-47D Chinook A15-152 at Rockhampton Airport This Week

Another chook at Rockhampton Airport!

Photographed by local plane spotters Don W and 'IAD' at Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 23 October was Australian Army Boeing CH-47D Chinook A15-152.

Some research on A15-152 suggests that this Chinook is a recent acquisition for the Australian Army - delivered to the 5th Aviation Regiment in Townsville in June 2012.  Prior to this, A15-152 (c/n M.3317) flew with the United States Army Aviation Branch as 89-00163.

Certainly a great sight at Rockhampton Airport, and this made three of the big transport helicopters on the ground, with the two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing CH-47SD Chinooks still based at Rockhampton Airport.

Photos taken by Don Williams and 'IAD'  ©

A Triple Treat of Bell 412 Rescue Helicopters at Gladstone Airport Recently - VH-XCY, VH-LSV and VH-VAU

Local plane spotters Jamie C and Tash C have sent through some wonderful images of some fantastic helicopter action at Gladstone Airport recently.

On Thursday 17 October, they captured some great photos of the locally-based Careflight Bell 412EP VH-XCY as it departed and then later returned to Gladstone Airport.

Also on Thursday 17 October, Australian Helicopters Agusta AB412 (Bell 412) VH-LSV popped into Gladstone Airport briefly on what seemed to be a ferry flight to North Queensland.

It arrived shortly after VH-XCY departed!

And VH-LSV departed Gladstone shortly after VH-XCY had arrived back at base!

Then on Sunday 20 October, fellow Australian Helicopters Bell 412EP VH-VAU was noted ferrying South through Gladstone Airport, touching down to take on fuel before departing to further points South.

Information suggests that VH-VAU had been operating in North Queensland as a Rescue Helicopter under the radio callsign "Rescue 700".  It is obvious that VH-LSV was ferried North to replace VH-VAU in this role.

Thanks to Jamie and Tash for sending through these great photos of these lovely big bell helicopters!

Photos taken by Jamie C and Tash C  ©

A Double Treat as Air New Zealand B747-400 ZK-NBV Returns to Rockhampton Airport - And B777-200 ZK-OKC Touches Down Too!

For the second night in a row, Air New Zealand Boeing B747-400 ZK-NBV has touched down at Rockhampton Airport.  On Wednesday 23 October, ZK-NBV flew direct to Rocky direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as ANZ1942.

After dropping off its passengers and freight, ZK-NBV departed Rockhampton for Auckland, ferrying empty as ANZ6032.

Shortly after ZK-NBV departed, fellow Air New Zealand aircraft - Boeing B777-200 ZK-OKC - also touched down at Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 23 October, this time ferrying in from Auckland as ANZ6033.  Local plane spotters and enthusiasts were excited to see two big overseas aircraft in the Rockhampton Airport circuit area at the same time!

ZK-OKC picked up a full load of passengers and freight and eventually departed Rockhampton for Singapore Changi Airport as ANZ1933.

At the time of writing, ZK-OKC was airborne again, and due into Rockhampton from Singapore late on Thursday 24 October.

Sincere thanks to Rockhampton plane spotters Don W and 'IAD' for sending through their great photos from last night!  Top stuff!

Photos taken by Don Williams and 'IAD'  ©

A Few Other Bizjets Around Central Queensland Airports This Week

As posted below, earlier this week, Emerald Airport came 'alive' over Sunday 20 October and Monday 21 October with the arrival and departure of the Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Airwing Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY, along with the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU, and other aircraft, bringing Ministers and support staff for a Community Cabinet meeting.

VH-SGY at Emerald Airport on Sunday night  (File photo)

On Monday 21 October, VH-SGY and VH-PSU both departed for Cairns.

Taking their place at Emerald Airport, on Tuesday 22 October was Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-SJP, which arrived from the Sunshine Coast.  At the time of writing, it was scheduled to depart back to the Sunny Coast on Thursday 24 October.

Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang VH-KXM was also a visitor to Emerald Airport on Tuesday 22 October, arriving from Normanton.  It had earlier popped into Longreach, enroute from Bankstown to Normanton.  It later departed to Toowoomba.

VH-KXM at Gladstone Airport earlier this year  (File photo taken by Jamie C  ©)

At the time of writing, VH-KXM was due to return to Emerald on Thursday 24 October, with information suggesting that it was to return from Toowoomba, before continuing back to Normanton.

One other familiar Citation bizjet in the form of Jetstream Aviation's bright and colourful Cessna 550 Citation II - VH-VDF - visited the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour on Monday 21 October arriving from, and later departing back to, the Sunshine Coast.

VH-VDF at the Whitsunday Airport on a previous occasion  (File photo)

Finally, Careflight Queensland's LearJet 45 VH-CXJ was noted at Mackay Airport on Monday 21 October.  It arrived from Brisbane and departed to Cairns.

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C/D Fighting Falcons Depart Rockhampton Airport Wednesday

Sadly, the six Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16C/D Block 52 Version Fighting Falcon jets that have been based at Rockhampton Airport over the last couple of weeks, departed on Wednesday 23 October.

The flight of six fighter jets - of 140 Squadron of the RSAF - all taxiied to the end of Runway 15 and all took to the sky in quick succession.  Information suggests that the six 'Vipers' departed to Darwin.  They were heard to again be using the one radio callsign of "Singa 3311".

The six F-16s that were in Rocky to participate in the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2013 were:  '613' - F-16C-52-J, '694' - F-16D-52-CF, '625' - F-16D-52-J, '639' F-16D-52-CF, '611' F-16C-52-J, and '691' F-16D-52-J

Thanks to CQ Plane Spotting Blog followers and fans - Colleen from Charlee Photography, Don W, and 'IAD' - for sending through these awesome images from Wednesday of these truly great visitors to Central Queensland!

Re-painted Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPC at Mackay and Rockhampton Airports This Week

Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPC has been noted back at Mackay and Rockhampton Airports this week after recently returning from maintenance and re-painting into its new livery.

Photo taken by the Far North Queensland Skies Blog  ©

On Monday 21 October, VH-ZPC popped into Mackay Airport from Sydney as VOZ1473, while on Tuesday 22 October, VH-ZPC was noted at Rockhampton Airport.  On Wednesday 23 October, VH-ZPC returned to Rockhampton Airport twice operating the VOZ1243/1244 and VOZ1249/1252 services from and back to Brisbane.  It also popped into Cairns Airport, where the Far North Queensland Skies Blog captured the image above!

New Jetstar Airways Airbus A320SL VH-VFQ Touches Down at Hamilton Island Airport

In what seems to be becoming a familiar pattern, Jetstar Airways' latest Airbus A320SL to enter service - VH-VFQ - has made its first visit into Central Queensland by touching down at Hamilton Island Airport on Tuesday 22 October.  VH-VFQ arrived from Sydney as JST846, and departed back there as JST849.

Jetstar has also taken delivery of VH-VFT, however at the time of writing, it is yet to enter service.

Air New Zealand Boeing B747-400 ZK-NBV at Rockhampton Airport Tuesday Night

Air New Zealand Boeing B747-400 ZK-NBV touched down at Rockhampton late on Tuesday 22 October, arriving empty direct from Auckland as ANZ6031.

Local plane spotters Don W and 'IAD' were on hand to capture some lovely photos of the jumbo - as well as some 'close-ups' of ZK-NBV which is named "Christchurch".

  

ZK-NBV eventually departed direct to Singapore (Changi) Airport as ANZ1931, making a spectacular full-power departure off Rockhampton's Runway 33.

It is expected that ZK-NBV will be back at Rockhampton again later tonight on Wednesday 23 October.

Thanks to Don and 'IAD' for sending through these great photos!

Photos taken by Don Williams and 'IAD'  ©