Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 Jets Galore at Gladstone Airport

Certainly an unusual, but most welcome sight at Gladstone Airport, with four Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 jets operating scheduled services from and back to Brisbane over the last couple of days - and local plane spotters Michael F, Jamie C and Tash C have been there to catch most of the action!

On Tuesday 2 July, E-190 VH-ZPL operated the late evening VOZ1717/1716 service.

Then, the Embraer jet action started early on Wednesday 3 July with E-190 VH-ZPQ touching down from Brisbane as VOZ1707.  Michael captured a quick photo shortly after it arrived.

Jamie and Tash captured some great photos as VH-ZPQ departed back to Brisbane as VOZ1710.

Later, E-190 VH-ZPG then touched down at Gladstone as VOZ1711.  It later departed back to Brisbane as VOZ1714.

Finally, E-190 VH-ZPM operated the early evening VOZ1717 flight into Gladstone from Brisbane.  It later departed back to Brisbane as VOZ1716.

Interestingly, these four E-190s that flew into Gladstone displayed the three liveries that are currently worn on Virgin Australia's E-190s - VH-ZPL and VH-ZPG in the old 'Virgin Blue' colours; VH-ZPQ in the new 'Virgin Australia' colours; and VH-ZPM in the 'Pacific Blue' colours.

Photos taken by Michael Fleetwood, Jamie C and Tash C  ©

Plane Spotting Photos from Biloela / Thangool Airport - Alliance Fokker F-50s VH-FKO & VH-FKY and Cessna Citation Bizjet VH-JMM

Over the last few days there have been a few notable aircraft to visit the Biloela / Thangool Airport.  Gladstone plane spotters Jamie C and Tash C ventured there on Tuesday 2 July and captured three special visitors.

 

 

As has been reported earlier, Alliance Airlines has started semi-regular fly-in fly-out (FIFO) charter flights to Biloela / Thangool operated by Fokker 50 turbo-prop aircraft.  On Tuesday 2 July, Jamie and Tash spotted the pair of Alliance Fokker 50s that have called into the Airport over various time over the last couple of weeks - VH-FKO and VH-FKY.

Both aircraft had arrived from Brisbane as UTY663 and UTY665 respectively.

Later, they both departed back to the capital, with VH-FKO departing as UTY664. Interestingly VH-FKO then left Brisbane for Adelaide where it was later noted operating FIFO flights down there.

VH-FKY departed as UTY666.

Both VH-FKO and VH-FKY visited Biloela / Thangool Airport on Saturday 29 June.

Also arriving into Biloela / Thangool Airport on Tuesday 2 July was MyJet Aviation Cessna 551 Citation II/SP bizjet VH-JMM which had earlier arrived from Toowoomba and its home base of Bendigo in Victoria.

Information suggests the little Citation is in the town on Government business, and at the time writing, VH-JMM was still on the ground at the Airport.

Other recent notable movements into Biloela / Thangool Airport have included Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQD which popped in from, and later out to Brisbane as SKP7200/7201 also on Saturday 29 June.

Also arriving and departing on Saturday 29 June was Queensland Government Airwing Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ.

Lastly Air Link (Dubbo) Beech 1900D VH-RUE also flew into Biloela / Thangool Airport from Brisbaen as Thursday 27 June.  After a day on the ground, VH-RUE departed back to Brisbane.

Sincere thanks to Jamie and Tash for not only taking the family on an outing from Gladstone to Biloela / Thangool Airport (around a four hour round trip!) but thanks for capturing and sending through some absolutely spectacular images!

All photos taken by Jamie C and Tash C  ©

Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 - Preparations Begin with Aircraft Movements at Rockhampton and Townsville Airports

Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 is scheduled to take place from Monday 15 July to Monday 5 August 2013.

Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 is a US led Australian supported exercise conducted primarily in Australia to improve combat training, readiness and interoperability, across a wide spectrum of military activities. The Exercise is conducted at designated Australian Defence Force (ADF) training facilities throughout Queensland, and in adjacent maritime areas of the Coral Sea. Key sites include the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Central Queensland, Townsville Field Training Area, port facilities in Queensland (Brisbane, Gladstone and Alma Ports), as well as Rockhampton and Cairns Airports.

Reports suggest that preparations in Rockhampton and Townsville are well under way, with personnel and equipment spotted in the two cities over the last couple of weeks.

Rockhampton Airport has already played host to a couple of small US military aircraft, as well as multiple Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air arrivals, as well as the odd training flight from a RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III and Airbus KC-30A MRTT.

RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air A32-439 at Rockhampton Airport recently   (File photo taken by 'IAD' ©)

During a recent trip North, Rockhampton plane spotter 'IAD' captured a great image of a pair United States Air Force (USAF) Dornier C-146A (Dornier 328-120) aircraft on the ground at Townsville Aiport. 

Photo taken by 'IAD' ©

Also spotted at Townsville Airport last week was a Nippon Cargo Airlines Boeing B747-400F JA05KZ, which was operating in support of Talisman Saber.

There are reports that more US aircraft are due to arrive into Rockhampton Airport this coming weekend, with US Navy (USN) 7th Fleet Band from Yokosuka, Japan, starting performances in the area from Sunday 7 July. There are also reports of multiple military aircraft arriving into the beef city on Monday 8 July.

United States Navy (USN) Boeing C-40A at Rockhampton Airport in 2011 (File photo)

The Talisman Saber 2013 Open Day has also been announced and will be held on Sunday 14 July at the Rockhampton Showgrounds from 11.30am to 4pm (entry via gates 2 and 8 only). For the small price of $2 per person (under 5's free), the TS13 Open Day offers a unique opportunity for members of the community to view military hardware, aircraft and displays, talk to defence personnel from Australian and visiting US forces, enjoy performances by US and RAR bands, and enjoy the skill of the Australian Federation Guard Precision Drill Team.

Talisman Sabre Open Day 2011  (File photos)

Food, drinks and static displays also provided by various local community groups. All gate proceeds donated to Legacy.

ex-Central Queensland Rescue (CQ Rescue) Helicopters Bell 412s VH-NSV and VH-BZH Depart Mackay Airport for the South

Central Queensland Rescue (CQ Rescue) Helicopter Service Bell 412s VH-NSV and VH-BZH - which are owned and operated by CHC Helicopters - were both noted departing Mackay Airport heading South on Tuesday 2 July.

Local plane spotters, Jamie C and Tash C received a very pleasant surprise when both VH-NSV and VH-BZH called into Gladstone Airport on their journey South.

The CQ Rescue Helicopter Service has had a change in helicopter provider, with Australian Helicopters taking over the contract from Monday 1 July.

After taking on fuel, both VH-NSV and VH-BZH departed to the South - possibly Bundaberg and then onto Brisbane.

Thanks to Jamie and Tash for capturing and sending through these great photos!  Hopefully we will get to see these two lovely helicopters in Central Queensland again some day!

Photos taken by Jamie C and Tash C  ©

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-NQB Departs Rockhampton Airport

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-NQB ("FlyDoc 428") has departed Rockhampton Airport very early on Tuesday 2 July, returning to its Mount Isa base.

Sincere thanks to Rockhampton plane spotter 'IAD' for sending through these great photos of such a rare visitor to Central Queensland.

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©