Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache & Boeing CH-47F Chinook Helicopters Depart Rockhampton Airport for Oakey - Via Bundaberg Airport!

Some spectacular photos on Monday 16 October, as just about all the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) helicopters departed Rockhampton Airport and 'Warriors Camp' at the conclusion of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23).

The four Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters departed in a spectacular flight of four as "Aspen Flight" and called into Bundaberg Airport to refuel.  Local plane spotters were out in force in Bundy to capture photos and videos of the unusual visitors!

The four Apaches - serials 056, 063, 064, and 069 - then continued down to the Oakey Army Aviation Centre where they are believed to be completing more flying operations with Australian Army Eurocopter Tiger ARH helicopters.

While six of the eight RSAF Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters also departed Rockhampton and flew down to Oakey direct.

They complete the flight in two groups with "Celtic" departing first - 1 & 2 from the Camp and 3 & 4 from Rockhampton Airport - followed by "Concorde" - 1 from the Camp and 1 from Rockhampton Airport.

There are two remaining RSAF Chinooks which are seemingly planned to depart to Oakey on Tuesday 17 October.

All the helicopters had arrived into Rockhampton Airport back at the end of August / start of September with the Apaches freighted in on the Antonov AN-124.

Exercise Wallaby is over for another year, and we look forward to seeing both the Apaches and Chinooks back at Rockhampton Airport again in 2024!

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for allowing us to share these great photos and videos from both Rockhampton Airport and Bundaberg Airport!

Photos and videos taken by Daniel Gorza and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Airbus A330-MRTT '765' and Lockheed C-130H Hercules '731' Both Call into Rockhampton Airport as Exercise Wallaby 2023 Draws to a Close

During the late afternoon on Sunday 15 October, a pair of The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) transport aircraft both arrived into Rockhampton Airport in preparation for the departure of participating aircraft and helicopters as The Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23) draws to a close.

First to arrive into Rockhampton Airport was RSAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft '731' which flew down from Darwin as "SAF6348".  It had arrived there from Singapore the previous day.

Then RSAF Airbus A330-243 Multi Role Tanker Transport (A330-MRTT) aircraft '765' arrived from Singapore as "SAF8333".

Both aircraft are expected to stay for the night with information suggesting they will be departing to Cairns early on Monday 16 October, in company with the four RSAF General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16D Block 52 Version Fighting Falcon jets, while on the first leg of their journey home to Singapore.

Meanwhile, it is also possible that on Monday 16 October, the RSAF helicopters will be departing Rockhampton Airport soon with one report suggesting the Boeing AH-64D Apaches are not being uplifted back to Singapore from Rockhampton Airport but instead they are flying away to a different location for more Exercises.

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Steve Vit  ©

Sharp Airlines Metro 23 VH-UZN Calls into Some CQ Airports on Federal Referendum Duties - Plus More!

On Sunday 15 October, Sharp Airlines Metro 23 VH-UZN as "Sharp 173" departed Winton Airport for Longreach, Barcaldine, Charleville, Cunnamulla and Toowoomba Airports before flying onwards to Brisbane.  As mentioned below, it had originally landed at Winton Airport on Friday 13 October.

Of interest, on Saturday 14 October, VH-UZN as "Sharp 104" did a similar run out of Winton Airport, flying to Longreach, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Saint George and Toowoomba before then returning to Winton Airport.

It appears that these flights were in support of the Federal Referendum held over the weekend.

Perhaps a similar set of flights were completed by General Aviation Maintenace (GAM) Aero Commander 500-S VH-KAK.  On Saturday 14 October, it flew up from Brisbane to Longreach Airport and then Mount Isa, before then, on Sunday 15 October, flying across Mount Isa to Cairns and then down to Rockhampton Airport and back to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 15 October, Brisbane-based Hewitt Cattle Australia P/L SOCATA TBM 700 VH-PGA flew back from Alice Springs and Ambalindum to Longreach Airport before then continuing to Archerfield.  It looked to have flown out there a few days earlier.

Air Link Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftan VH-MZI flew out of Blackall Airport to Archerfield after arriving there the previous day.

And also visiting Blackall Airport, also on Sunday 15 October, was American-registered (but seemingly Australian-based) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet N510MW which arrived from Melbourne (Essendon).

UPDATE!  Monday 16 October, N510MW departed Blackall Airport and flew up to Lizard Island.  Over the next week, it flew to Cooktown and the Sunshine Coast before eventually returning to Essendon.

And Cessna 182 VH-RYZ was noted operating the parachuting flights out of Lakeside Airpark around the Laguna Quays Resort.

All photos taken by Garry Wilkinson  ©

Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 9V-SHD & Garuda Indonesia Boeing B777-300 PK-GIF Both Call into Rockhampton Airport in Support of Exercise Wallaby 2023

The uplift of personnel and equipment out of Rockhampton Airport as The Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23) draws to a close has well and truly begun with a pair of heavy jet charter flights departing to Singapore late on Sunday 15 October.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-951 9V-SHD was photographed arriving into Rockhampton Airport direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as SIA8921.

After loading a full flight of personnel and equipment, it departed back to Changi but as SIA8928.

Then after dark, Garuda Indonesia Boeing B777-3U3(ER) PK-GIF made a one-off final visit, arriving from Jakarta as GIA7771 and then departing to Singapore but as GIA7770.

Of interest, it then appears to be positioning to Lombok and then flying a charter to Melbourne (Tullamarine) and then back to Jakarta.

It is believed that there is one final heavy jet passenger charter flight on Monday 16 October to again be operated by a Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900.

Photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

A Couple of Nice Australian Bizjets at Whitsundays Airports - Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign VH-PYN & Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy VH-VLT

On Saturday 14 October, there was a nice pair of Australian corporate bizjets noted departing a couple of Whitsundays Airports.

File photo

After arriving earlier in the week, Gulf Aircraft Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-PYN departed Mackay Airport for Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then Brisbane.

It had arrived from these places on Tuesday 10 October.

And Australian Corporate Jet Centres' operated Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy bizjet VH-VLT flew across from Ayres Rock to Hamilton Island Airport before departing to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 9V-SHH Calls into Rockhampton Airport in Support of Exercise Wallaby 2023

After a couple of days 'break', on Saturday 14 October, Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-951 9V-SHH arrived into Rockhampton Airport direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as SIA8921.

9V-SHH taxied in and parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron.

After loading a full flight of personnel and bags, 9V-SHH departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Changi but as SIA8928.

Information suggests that there will be another heavy jet charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23) on Sunday 15 October.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

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

Photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK Pops into Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 13 October, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK called into Longreach Airport from Cairns and Mount Isa before it then departed to Brisbane. 

File photo

While late in the afternoon Sharp Airlines Metro 23 VH-UZN as "Sharp 104" flew up to Winton Airport from Brisbane on what looks to be a flight supporting this weekend's Federal Referendum.

And General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) Aero Commander 500-S VH-UJU completed aerial survey work over the greater Bundaberg region while on a flight out of and back to Archerfield.

Finally, also on Friday 13 October, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville before it then departed to Brisbane.

As mentioned below, on Thursday 12 October, VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" landed at Emerald Airport from Brisbane and then flew up to Townville via Cairns. 

Photos taken by Steve Vit   ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-210 at Rockhampton Airport Again as "Stallion 35"

On Friday 13 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-210 was back in the region again as "Stallion 35", this time calling into Rockhampton Airport for a short time.

After flying North the previous day, A41-210 "Stallion 35" flew down from Townsville to complete a missed approach at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then flying down and landing at Rockhampton Airport for a short time.

It then departed to complete a missed approach at the Sunshine Coast and then flew onwards to RAAF Base Amberley.

Photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Robindale Group (Bathurst) / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-CMK at Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 12 October, Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport for the Sunshine Coast and Orange.  It had arrived from those places over the previous couple of days. 

File photo

While LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" landed at Emerald Airport from Brisbane.  It then departed to Cairns and then Townsville.

The locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ departed Mackay Airport for the Sunshine Coast.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 17 October, N142GZ returned to Mackay Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

And Air Charter Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-VKX landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Brisbane before it later departed to Sunshine Coast. 

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 12 October, there was another charter flight in and out of Rockhampton Airport which was operated by Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZRJ.  It arrived from Brisbane as RXA9392 and later departed back there as RXA9393. 

Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ as "Navair 170" visited the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Archerfield but returned via the Sunshine Coast.

Flight One (Services) Beech B200 King Air VH-FON also visited Labona from Archerfield flying up there via the Sunshine Coast and directly back.

While Victorian-based Agair Logistics P/L Gulfstream American Corporation 695A Jetprop Commander 1000 VH-HPY as "Birddog 370" landed at Emerald Airport from Toowoomba then departed back to there via a fire check North of Emerald. 

And recently re-registered (to Emerald Coaches, in Emerald) Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-ZMM departed Mackay Airport for Emerald Airport.

Photos taken by 'AC'   ©

A Pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules Aircraft - A97-441 & A97-464 - Spotted Completing Airwork at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Thursday 12 October, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft were spotted and noted completing airwork at some Central Queensland Airports.

C-130J A97-441 as "Trojan 05" flew down from Townsville to a complete a missed approach at Mackay Airport before then flying down at being spotted at Rockhampton Airport where it completed three touch-and-go approaches before then flying down at landing at RAAF Base Amberley.

C-130J A97-464 as "Trojan 06" also flew down from Townsville to also complete a missed approach at Mackay Airport before then flying down and also being spotted completing another missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before then also flying down and landing at Amberley. 

Both aircraft then departed Amberley and completed missed approaches at Coffs Harbour and Tamworth before then landing at RAAF Base Richmond.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 12 October, RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-210 as "Stallion 35" flew out from Amberley to complete a high missed approach at Charleville Airport before then flying across and also being spotted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

The Globemaster then flew up to complete another missed approach at Cairns before landing at Townsville.

Finally, also on Thursday 12 October, Australian Army Aviation operated (Tillair Services / Omni Aviation Services) Cessna 208B Caravan VH-POV was also spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport, touching down from Cairns as "Waler 15".

It then departed down to the Oakey Army Aviation Centre and then Archerfield.

The Caravan flew North via Longreach Airport last Thursday 5 October and has been spending time operating out of Darwin, Cairns and Oakey over recent weeks using the "Waler" callsign which is reportedly an Australian Army callsign.

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

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©