Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Niugini Aviation PAC-750XL P2-KNA Passes Through Mackay Airport
On Tuesday 6 November, Pacific Aerospace, PAC-750XL, P2-KNA of Niugini Aviation passed through Mackay Airport on its journey North-bound. It arrived from Toowoomba, and after taking on fuel, departed for Cairns.
A Royal Visit to Longreach Airport Brings Bizjets and Other Aircraft Galore!
Prince Charles and Camilla arrived into Longreach from Papua New Guinea on board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-700 BBJ.
Earlier, another RAAF aircraft in the form of a Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 touched down carrying media and other support staff. It's believed that another RAAF Challenger 604 also touched down at Longreach carrying dignitaries from the South.
The Royal Couple were in Longreach to name and commission a new Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) aircraft as well as inspect the Qantas Founders Outback Museum (QFOM).
The RFDS aircraft in question is believed to be a New South Wales-based Hawker Beechcraft B200 VH-MVX which was noted arriving into Longreach earlier on Monday 5 November. Sister-ship VH-MVY was also noted arriving into Longreach.
After a demonstration of the RFDS medi-vac procedures, and the naming and commissioning ceremony, both RFDS King Airs departed Longreach for Charleville, and later their Dubbo base.
There were a number of other bizjets and corporate aircraft that were noted at Longreach Airport on Monday 5 November as well.
Queensland Government Raytheon Hawker 850XP VH-SGY and Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ were present. They later departed to the South.
The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 208 VH-PSQ and Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK arrived and remained overnight, due to depart on Tuesday 6 November.
Flight Options (Aeromil Pacific) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-SJP was also noted arriving, as was Kefford Corporation (of Victoria) Gulfstream IV-SP N810LP (file photo below). Both bizjets were due to depart on Tuesday 6 November.
Edwards Coaches Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 VH-RJB was noted arriving and departing.
There were also a couple of Pilatus PC-12 turbo-prop aircraft noted with Argyle Charter PC-12/47 VH-WPH and PC-12-47E VH-VTF popping in, with both due to depart on Tuesday 6 November.
I'm sure that there were several other light aircraft that visited Longreach for such a special occassion as well, however information to hand about these is limited.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
More New Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 Aircraft at Central Queensland Airports
In late August we highlighted the first visits to Central Queensland of some of Virgin Australia's newest Boeing B737-800 aircraft - you can read that post HERE. Over the last couple of months, Virgin has continued to take delivery of more new B737-800's, and in this post, we update the 'first visits' to CQ of some of these newer aircraft.
B737-800 VH-YIQ - which was delivered in late August - was believed to first visit Rockhampton on Saturday 15 September, touching down as VOZ1245 from Brisbane. On Sunday 16 September, VH-YIQ was back in CQ, this time touching down at Hamilton Island Airport as VOZ1281 from Sydney.
B737-800 VH-YIR - which was delivered in late September - made its first visit to CQ flying into Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport on Saturday 13 October as VOZ1117 from Brisbane.
B737-800 VH-YIS - which was delivered in early October - operated into Hamilton Island from Sydney as VOZ1281 on Sunday 4 November, marking its debut into CQ.
Lastly, B737-800 VH-YIT - which was also delivered in early October - also made its CQ debut at Hamilton Island, touching down on Sunday 21 October as VOZ1281 from Sydney. Two days later, on Tuesday 23 October, VH-YIT ventured to Rockhampton as VOZ1243 from Brisbane.
A Closer Look at Piper PA-28-180R Cherokee Arrow VH-PBA
The aircraft is powered by a Textron Lycoming IO-360 piston engine which is capable of propelling the small Piper to a speed of approximately 130 knots, and it is easily capable of cruising at 10000 feet. The pilot commented that the maximum altitude he has flown in the plane is 9500 feet.
Readers of the CQ Plane Spotting Blog may have noted that VH-PBA has spent a lot of time in recent years hired/leased to Peace Aviation in Rockhampton. Peace Aviation frequently utilised the plane to fly passengers to and from Great Keppel Island when the resort there was still operational. In fact, it was common for VH-PBAto be utilised for up to 45 hours per month. These dropped significantly however when the resort closed down, and Peace Aviation redeployed the aircraft on other duties.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
FOCUS ON: The Mackay Tiger Moth Museum at Mackay Airport
If you are looking for a special gift for someone, why not get them something they will remember for a lifetime.
The Mackay Tiger Moth Museum is a volunteer organisation run by a small group of aviation enthusiasts that offers local joyflights to the public on the weekends. The aim of the museum is to preserve for as long as possible, in flying condition, a vintage DH-82A Tiger Moth, for the enjoyment and education of the general public.
Joy Flights are available to the general public. You can enjoy the complete freedom of open cockpit flying in this rare vintage aircraft and see the the beauty of Mackay's sandy beaches, islands, the Pioneer Valley and the City of Mackay.
The Museum current flys two vintage Tiger Moth aircraft. The first is 1943-built De Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth, registered VH-IVN, which was built in Cowley in England as a training aircraft for the RAF. The Museum painted the Tiger a bright yellow colour being the base colour used by the RAAF on their training Tiger Moths during the Second World War.
In November 2010, the Museum purchased a second Tiger Moth - 1942-build DH-82A registered VH-CYA. It arrived into Mackay from Luskintyre in May 2011. It was christened “David and Irie Dalrymple” by David and Irie Dalrymple on in July 2011. VH-CYA was built to order for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as A17-551.
The museum operates their Tiger Moths out of Mackay Airport, in front of their new hangar beside the Mackay Aero Club, on Casey Avenue, Mackay.
20, 30, and 60 minute joyflights and gift vouchers are available Bookings can be made through Whitsunday Office Machines on 4998 5677, or, afterhours on 0427 165 796.
Full details are available on the museum's website - HERE.
20, 30, and 60 minute joyflights and gift vouchers are available Bookings can be made through Whitsunday Office Machines on 4998 5677, or, afterhours on 0427 165 796.
Full details are available on the museum's website - HERE.
Friday, November 2, 2012
A Couple from Gladstone Airport on Friday
QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXE has made its debut in Central Queensland on Friday 2 November.
Jamie C captured VH-NXE visiting Gladstone, and of note, is that the aircraft still wears the old 'Qantas' titles and colours.
Also at Gladstone on Friday 2 November, Shane T caught QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOK and Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) ATR 72-600 VH-FVN, on approach to the Airport, passing over his house.
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Earlier in the week, Shane captured a lovely image of Gemwhite Cessna 182 VH-TRE as it passed over the top of his house!
Great photos - thanks guys!
A Trio of King Airs - And More - at Clermont Aerodrome This Week
On Tuesday 30 October, there were numerous Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) flights that called into Clermont Aerodrome, including a trio of King Air aircraft.
Firstly, two Skytrans Airlines Dash-8s departed Southbound on their regular weekly FIFO runs.
Later in the day, a pair of Australasian Jet Beech B200 King Airs VH-ZMO and VH-ZMP called in. VH-ZMP in fact called in twice, and was photographed shortly after its late afternoon arrival.
Also arriving into Clermont on Tuesday 30 October was Istlecote (Seair) Beech B200 VH-MWQ.
The all-white King Air was previously used as an Air Ambulance by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS).
Arriving into Clermont Aerodrome early on Wednesday 31 October was West Wing Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan VH-XDU.
It arrived from Townsville and later departed back there.
Lastly, Archerfield-based Flight One (Services) Piper PA-31-350 VH-JQS arrived into Clermont from Emerald on Thursday 1 November.
It later departed direct to Archerfield.
With a big music festival on this weekend in Clermont, there is word that there might be some additional traffic coming into Clermont Aerodrome over the next few days - here's hoping!
Firstly, two Skytrans Airlines Dash-8s departed Southbound on their regular weekly FIFO runs.
Later in the day, a pair of Australasian Jet Beech B200 King Airs VH-ZMO and VH-ZMP called in. VH-ZMP in fact called in twice, and was photographed shortly after its late afternoon arrival.
Also arriving into Clermont on Tuesday 30 October was Istlecote (Seair) Beech B200 VH-MWQ.
The all-white King Air was previously used as an Air Ambulance by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS).
Arriving into Clermont Aerodrome early on Wednesday 31 October was West Wing Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan VH-XDU.
It arrived from Townsville and later departed back there.
Lastly, Archerfield-based Flight One (Services) Piper PA-31-350 VH-JQS arrived into Clermont from Emerald on Thursday 1 November.
It later departed direct to Archerfield.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Rockhampton Airport Carpark Users Given More Free Parking Time
From: the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
After manually timing families, the elderly, and the sick, going back and forth from the Rockhampton Airport terminal to their cars, Rockhampton Councillor Neil Fisher has finally succeeded in his campaign to lengthen the airport's car parking 'grace period'.
The chairman of council's Business Enterprise Committee fought for it to be changed to 30 minutes, but council officers advised council would lose $63,000 in revenue in one year alone. They have finally agreed to change the time to 20 minutes.
About 72% of motorists have been able to leave the car park within the original 15 minutes, but Cr Fisher said it was a battle for many people to make that time and they were forced to pay at least $2. Cr Fisher said he had experienced first-hand how difficult it was to get to the terminal and back to the car in time with young children and strollers in tow.
He said he had also received complaints from users of the car park who were either ill or elderly and had difficulty making the free parking time limit.
A survey of users found most people wanted free parking increased by a few minutes in line with Brisbane Airport. Users also complained the car park was not designed for large four-wheel drive mining vehicles.
***Incidentally, it should also be noted that for plane spotters wanting to go to Rockhampton Airport at night to watch or photograph the upcoming late night heavy jet arrivals, the carpark gates get locked most nights around 11pm-12midnight. Recently, one spotter found this out first hand!!
After manually timing families, the elderly, and the sick, going back and forth from the Rockhampton Airport terminal to their cars, Rockhampton Councillor Neil Fisher has finally succeeded in his campaign to lengthen the airport's car parking 'grace period'.
The chairman of council's Business Enterprise Committee fought for it to be changed to 30 minutes, but council officers advised council would lose $63,000 in revenue in one year alone. They have finally agreed to change the time to 20 minutes.
About 72% of motorists have been able to leave the car park within the original 15 minutes, but Cr Fisher said it was a battle for many people to make that time and they were forced to pay at least $2. Cr Fisher said he had experienced first-hand how difficult it was to get to the terminal and back to the car in time with young children and strollers in tow.
He said he had also received complaints from users of the car park who were either ill or elderly and had difficulty making the free parking time limit.
A survey of users found most people wanted free parking increased by a few minutes in line with Brisbane Airport. Users also complained the car park was not designed for large four-wheel drive mining vehicles.
***Incidentally, it should also be noted that for plane spotters wanting to go to Rockhampton Airport at night to watch or photograph the upcoming late night heavy jet arrivals, the carpark gates get locked most nights around 11pm-12midnight. Recently, one spotter found this out first hand!!
A Few More 'Jumbo' Photos of Malaysia Airlines Boeing B747-400 9M-MPK at Rockhampton Airport
The jumbo had arrived direct from Singapore Airport as MH8711. After dropping off a load of passengers, and possibly loading some too, it departed in the early hours of Wednesday 31 October as MH8752, direct to Singapore.
Incidentally, Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 9M-MKE also flew into Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 30 October, arriving from Singapore as MH8703, and later departing back to Singapore as MH8742.
CQ Plane Spotting Historic Spot: A Brief History of the Callide Dawson Flying Group Inc.
With the NORRA-Aus Fly-In at Monto Aerodrome still fresh in our minds, this month, we take a look at the history of the Callide Dawson Flying Group - a passionate group of flyers and enthusiasts that made this great event possible.
We sincerely thank club member Len Neale for supplying the following text and images...
The inaugural meeting of the Callide Dawson Flying Group Inc. was held at the Jambin Hotel on 17 June 1989, which makes us 23 years old this year. Of the original nine members, only two of us are still around, Myles Breitkreutz (representing RAAus.) and myself, being the original club secretary. Two other founding members, Earle Grove and Kevin Wilson, have taken off for that great runway in the sky.
From humble beginnings the club has grown in size, now having 80 financial members. At the inaugural meeting the first President, Earle Grove, (a pharmacist in Biloela at the time), insisted that the Club become incorporated, which we did soon after. I believe this was an important step in giving the club a solid base, with some liability protection for it's members. Indeed it was our club that suggested that the Australian Ultralight Federation (now Recreational Aviation Australia Inc.) become incorporated, which at the time it was not, leaving all members in Australia open to litigation. Our club is still affiliated with and a member of RAAus. Inc.
For a start we had difficulty getting a quorum at our meetings, even though the name suggested we represented the wide areas of the Callide and Dawson Valleys, and that the main broad objective of the club was to promote interest in flying. We held an early fly-in at the Dululu gliding field in conjunction with the Central Queensland Gliding Club, which created some interest. The Creed boys attended this event which gave them some ideas that developed later into the Old Station Airshows and Fly-In's.
It wasn't until our annual fly-ins began at Kevin Wilson's Smoky Creek Airfield though, that the club really began pumping. The first of these events was a good excuse for a party. It was the occasion of Aeronca Champion owner John Rasmussen's 60th and my 50th birthday, that made a good excuse to have a fly-in. So started a succession of annual fly-ins with up to 40 aeroplanes, 100 people, BBQ's, fire works, bonfires, and in the morning the dawn flight followed by the traditional bacon and eggs breakfast. From there on we had no trouble in gaining a quorum for our meetings.
Sadly Kevin Wilson's illness prevented us having the fly-in at Smoky Creek in 2010. Thankfully by then, other airfields at President Tony Fitzpatrick's near Biloela and at Frogs Hollow Theodore with Liz and Dave See (Secretary) became available for such events.
Liz and Dave have been amazing in promoting wonderful flying activities at places that include Capricorn Coast, Rockybar, Calliope, Baralaba, Theodore, and of course being a major supporter of the NORAAus fly-ins at Monto. My wife Fay has recently become club Treasurer and I continue as Vice-President. Myles faithfully continues to represent us on the RAAus board and in his capacity as Pilot Examiner.
Our club objective continues to be to promote recreational flying in many categories. We provided some scholarships in the past to help some fledgling flyers make a start. Who knows what future activities we may become involved in that further promote learning to fly? I'm sure we will continue to enjoy getting together and sharing the privilege of flying.
Sincere thanks Len!
For more information about the Callide Dawson Flying Group, contact the following members who are always keen to assist: Dave See - (07) 4993 1120; Len Neale - (07) 4992 3959; Tony Fitzpatrick - (07) 4922 3100.
We sincerely thank club member Len Neale for supplying the following text and images...
The inaugural meeting of the Callide Dawson Flying Group Inc. was held at the Jambin Hotel on 17 June 1989, which makes us 23 years old this year. Of the original nine members, only two of us are still around, Myles Breitkreutz (representing RAAus.) and myself, being the original club secretary. Two other founding members, Earle Grove and Kevin Wilson, have taken off for that great runway in the sky.
From humble beginnings the club has grown in size, now having 80 financial members. At the inaugural meeting the first President, Earle Grove, (a pharmacist in Biloela at the time), insisted that the Club become incorporated, which we did soon after. I believe this was an important step in giving the club a solid base, with some liability protection for it's members. Indeed it was our club that suggested that the Australian Ultralight Federation (now Recreational Aviation Australia Inc.) become incorporated, which at the time it was not, leaving all members in Australia open to litigation. Our club is still affiliated with and a member of RAAus. Inc.
For a start we had difficulty getting a quorum at our meetings, even though the name suggested we represented the wide areas of the Callide and Dawson Valleys, and that the main broad objective of the club was to promote interest in flying. We held an early fly-in at the Dululu gliding field in conjunction with the Central Queensland Gliding Club, which created some interest. The Creed boys attended this event which gave them some ideas that developed later into the Old Station Airshows and Fly-In's.
It wasn't until our annual fly-ins began at Kevin Wilson's Smoky Creek Airfield though, that the club really began pumping. The first of these events was a good excuse for a party. It was the occasion of Aeronca Champion owner John Rasmussen's 60th and my 50th birthday, that made a good excuse to have a fly-in. So started a succession of annual fly-ins with up to 40 aeroplanes, 100 people, BBQ's, fire works, bonfires, and in the morning the dawn flight followed by the traditional bacon and eggs breakfast. From there on we had no trouble in gaining a quorum for our meetings.
Sadly Kevin Wilson's illness prevented us having the fly-in at Smoky Creek in 2010. Thankfully by then, other airfields at President Tony Fitzpatrick's near Biloela and at Frogs Hollow Theodore with Liz and Dave See (Secretary) became available for such events.
Liz and Dave have been amazing in promoting wonderful flying activities at places that include Capricorn Coast, Rockybar, Calliope, Baralaba, Theodore, and of course being a major supporter of the NORAAus fly-ins at Monto. My wife Fay has recently become club Treasurer and I continue as Vice-President. Myles faithfully continues to represent us on the RAAus board and in his capacity as Pilot Examiner.
Our club objective continues to be to promote recreational flying in many categories. We provided some scholarships in the past to help some fledgling flyers make a start. Who knows what future activities we may become involved in that further promote learning to fly? I'm sure we will continue to enjoy getting together and sharing the privilege of flying.
Sincere thanks Len!
For more information about the Callide Dawson Flying Group, contact the following members who are always keen to assist: Dave See - (07) 4993 1120; Len Neale - (07) 4992 3959; Tony Fitzpatrick - (07) 4922 3100.
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