Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-002 as "Envoy 99" Pops into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

Also on Monday 18 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-002 as "Envoy 21" was noted calling into Bundaberg Airport after flying up from Canberra and Coffs Harbour.

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It later returned to Canberra via a missed approach at Tamworth.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 18 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-002 as "Windsor 07" was noted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport. It had departed RAAF Base Amberley and flown up to complete airwork at Cairns before then flying back South to Amberley via the airwork at Rocky.

Photo taken by Graham Aspinall  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Jet A46-304 Touches Down at Rockhampton Airport

On Monday 18 November, the much-anticipated arrival into Rockhampton Airport of a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Jets didn't quite eventuate with only one Growler being able to depart RAAF Base Amberley for the trip to the beef capital.

But it was still a spectacular visit as Growler A46-304 as "Wolf 21" arrived from Amberley via an initial and pitch before it then parked in front of the Alliance Airlines Hangar. 

Later it departed back to Amberley low level below 500ft. 

There is another visit by hopefully two more RAAF EA-18G Growler jets into Rockhampton Airport again on Tuesday 19 November, with visits to Mount Isa Airport planned over the latter part of this week.

UPDATE!  Sadly, on Tuesday 19 November, and again on Wednesday 20 November, inclement weather in different parts of Queensland prevented the planned visits.  On Thursday 21 November, RAAF EA-18G Growlers did manage to fly up to Mount Isa and back to Amberley.

The visits by the RAAF EA-18G Growlers are part of their 2024 National Defence Strategy to enhance their ability to operate across a vast network of airports, private aerodromes and airstrips across northern Australia.

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

Photos taken by Steve Vit, 'IAD' and Trevor Hardsman  ©

Plus Nauru Airlines Boeing B737-300(F) VH-ONU - And More Charter Flights - Also Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

On Saturday 16 November, Nauru Airlines Boeing B737-300(F) VH-ONU was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

The possible Australian Defence Force (ADF) charter looked to arrive from Brisbane and then depart to Darwin as RON500/1.

Another possible ADF charter into Rockhampton Airport, also on Saturday 16 November, was operated by Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VUK which also arrived from Brisbane and departed to Darwin but as VOZ9901/9001.

Finally, also on Saturday 16 November, Skytrans Airlines Cessna 208 Caravan VH-UZC visited Rockhampton Airport from Cairns as SKP680/1. It looked to complete low level airwork just North of Rocky before climbing to flight levels heading back to Cairns.

Sincere thanks to local photographer Steve V for allowing us to use these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

And Private Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 600 Bizjet T7-JCI Arrives into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Plus More! - UPDATED WITH PHOTO!

And on Saturday 16 November, Private Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 600 bizjet T7-JCI was noted arriving into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Darwin.  It had earlier arrived into the Top End from overseas.

UPDATE!  T7-JCI was photographed still parked at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport on Sunday 17 November as shown above.

And Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Essendon) and Adelaide (Parafield) to Roma Airport and then the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It then flew back to Roma Airport and then Essendon.  

VH-WMY looked to continue to Melbourne (Moorabbin) on Sunday 17 November.

Photo taken by Gelnn Brooker  ©

Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 Bizjet VH-HQK Pops into Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 15 November, Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-HQK was noted visiting Emerald Airport. 

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It looked to arrive from Dubbo and then depart to Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 17 November, VH-HQK popped back into Emerald Airport, flying back down from Cairns and then back to Dubbo.

While Brisbane-based Adome P/L (Air Link, Dubbo) Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 bizjet VH-YWS flew down from Hamilton Island Airport to Archerfield.  It looked to have arrived from Townsville a couple of days prior.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" landed at Blackall Airport from Townsville and then departed to Rockhampton Airport.  It is then due to fly to Mackay Airport and then Brisbane before later returning back to Townsville.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 15 November, one nice corporate turboprop we haven't seen for a while in the form of RDO Equipment Co. Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH visited Emerald Airport from Toowoomba.  

(Turns out that VH-WPH also visited Emerald Airport on Thursday 14 November as well as Bundaberg and Mackay Airports earlier in the week!)

Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12//47E NGX VH-8HP, which had flown down to Bankstown and back earlier in the week, flew down to there from Tierawoomba then up to Keeroongooloo and back to Tierawoomba during the afternoon.

The Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300C Super King Air 350 VH-8PE arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Brisbane.  It later returned to Cairns. 

And Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew up from Brisbane to the Oaky Creek Mine Site before continuing to Clermont Aerodrome.  It then flew back to Brisbane. 

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Aircraft A30-005 "Wedgetail 22" Missed Approach at Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 15 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-005 as "Wedgetail 22" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to a complete a missed approach at Hamilton Island Airport.  It then flew back to Williamtown.

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While Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-008 as "Wallaby 76" flew out from RAAF Base Amberley to a missed approach at Miles and Bundaberg Airports before it then returned to Amberley.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-005 as "Dragon 05" completed a late flight out of Townsville to Cairns via a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It then flew back to Townsville.

GCH Jet Operations (New Zealand) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet ZK-JCJ Departs Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 14 November, GCH Jet Operations (New Zealand) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet ZK-JCJ finally departed Hamilton Island Airport.  It flew down to the Sunshine Coast and then across to Christchurch and Taupo in New Zealand.

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It had arrived into Hamo from Christchurch via the Sunny Coast last Thursday 7 November.

AirMed Australia (Metro Holdings) (New South Wales) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQY as "Airmed 994" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and Tamworth. It later departed to Archerfield.

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB as "Ambulance 624"  flew from Townsville to Cairns and then Mackay Airport before departing to Brisbane. It then flew up to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before later departing back to Townsville.

MT Air Charters / Pilatus Australia Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet VH-PIL landed at Emerald Airport from Cessnock and then later departed to Mackay Airport. 

UPDATE!  On Friday 15 November, VH-PIL departed Mackay Airport for Cessnock.

While re-registered Townsville Airlines Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville before it then departed back to Cairns. 

And Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter VH-8UH as "Helitack 516" flew back down to Bundaberg Airport from a deployment to Mareeba via Mackay and Gladstone Airports. 

Finally, late on Thursday 14 November, Commando Skydivers (Victoria) GippsAero GA8-TC320 Airvan VH-SXK flew up from Morwell via Nyngan and Saint George to my local Clermont Aerodrome before then continuing to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport where it is believed to on delivery to a local operator.

Photo taken by Bernie Proctor  ©

A Pair of RAAF Super King Air Turboprops A32-671 & A32-675 Both Complete Airwork & Land at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Thursday 14 November, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air turboprops were noted completing airwork and landing at some Central Queensland Airports.

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A32-671 as "Hudson 15" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Tamworth via overhead Roma Airport.  During the afternoon, it departed Rockhampton Airport and flew down to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport where it completed airwork and landed for some time.  It then returned to Rockhampton Airport.

While A32-675 as "Hudson 07" also arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Tamworth but via a missed approach at Charleville Airport and then up via and inland route to the West of Rocky.  It then departed Rockhampton Airport and flew West to complete airwork at Emerald Airport before also returning to Rocky.

Both Super King Airs which are of 32 Squadron based at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria, flew up from there to Tamworth the previous day.

UPDATE!  On Friday 15 November, both Super King Airs departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to RAAF Base East Sale - A32-671 "Hudson 15" flew via Brisbane Airport, while A32-675 "Hudson 07" flew there via RAAF Base Williamtown.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©

Late Pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Aircraft A39-001 & A39-005 at Rockhampton Airport

Late on Wednesday 13 November, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft were noted touching down and completed missed approaches at Rockhampton Airport.  This is their second visit for the week - see Blog post below!

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First up, A39-001 as "Dragon 46" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and parked up for a little while.  It then departed back to Townsville.

Later, A39-005 as "Dragon 17" also flew down from Townsville to Rockhampton Airport but it completed a missed approach before then also heading back to Townsville.

It was a busy night!

UPDATE!  During Thursday 14 November, both A39-005 as "Thumper 11" and A39-001 as "Thumper 12" both took to the air out of Townsville and flew together for a while before A39-005 returned to Townsville and A39-001 flew down to RAAF Base Amberley.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©

A Couple of Late Diversions into Rockhampton Airport due Storms at Brisbane - Nauru Airlines Boeing B737-300 VH-PNI & Jetstar Airways AirbusA321neo VH-OYD

Late on Wednesday 13 November, there was some significant weather to pass through South-East Queensland and operations at Brisbane Airport and the Sunshine Coast Airport were impacted with several inbound flights diverting including a couple of nice aircraft to call into Rockhampton Airport.

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Nauru Airlines Boeing B737-300 VH-PNI as RON91 from Nauru was first to arrive into Rockhampton Airport.  It later continued its journey to Brisbane.

Then Jetstar Airways Airbus A321-251NX (A321neo) VH-OYD touched down at Rockhampton Airport as JST796 flying from Melbourne (Tullamarine) to the Sunshine Coast.  It later departed to the Sunny Coast.

It is believed that a couple of local flights also diverted with a QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 flight from Emerald Airport to Brisbane noted diverting into Bundaberg Airport.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©