A Few Saturday Photos from The Callide Dawson Flying Group (CDFG) 25th Anniversary Fly-in at Biloela / Thangool Airport

What a lovely start to the Fly-in!

The action at the Callide Dawson Flying Group (CDFG) 25th Anniversary Fly-in at Biloela / Thangool Airport was building up Saturday 7 June, with several aircraft touching down under sunny but cloudy skies.

The weekend is being held by the dedicated members of the group, with help from numerous generous sponsors and helpers ensuring that the weekend runs smoothly.  The CDFG hopes to make this an event that caters for all ages with a particular focus on encouraging families to have a day out.

Along with the usual attractions for plane spotters and aviation enthusiasts - including joyflights in Robinson R-44 helicopter VH-MTY and Training Intro Flights (TIFs) - there are also many other general interest items at the Airport like market stalls, jumping castles, kiddie rides, bus tours, camel rides, flight simulator, vintage car displays and much more!  To fill the tummies there are stalls selling pies, hamburgers, drinks, ice cream, popcorn, hot chips, sandwiches and more, plus a dining tent catering for breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Entertainment and a BBQ on the Sunday night.

Over 50 aircraft have touched down so far, with several 'day visitors' departing back to Rockhampton and Gladstone late in the day.  Also present were a pair of aircraft from the Old Station Farm at Raglan, which recently held the very successful heritage shown and fly-in.

Several aircraft have already arrived and are parked on the North-Eastern edge of the Airport.

One other attraction - albeit not aviation related - was the spectacular drive past of the late legendary Australian racing driver Peter Brock's 1993 Bathurst 12-hour Endurance Race winning vehicle - Holden VP SS Castle Hill Commodore '06'.

  

Certainly a lovely day at Biloela / Thangool Airport.  The action at the Fly-in is expected to kick off early on Sunday 8 June, including a memorial flight, along with more arriving aircraft, and another drive-past from the mighty Holden Commodore.  There will also a small break in proceedings to allow for a QantasLink Dash-8 to arrive and depart on RPT duties from Brisbane.

With this fly in the Club hopes to raise funds towards the building of an amenities block for the CDFG as well as the funds being raised for RFDS and Angel Flight.

More Spectacular Photos of the RAAF Balloon - VH-LVD - Operating Tethered Flights above Rockhampton Friday Night

Local plane spotter Kayanne H was very excited to be invited on board one the many tethered flights that were operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Balloon - VH-LVD - from the CQ NRL Bid Club at Rockhampton late on Friday 6 June.

The RAAF hot-air balloon - Kavanagh Balloons B-105 VH-LVD - operated several tethered flights to a height of 20 metres during the evening, exciting not only those lucky enough to enjoy a ride, but also the gathered crowd that grew as the night went on.

Kayanne also managed to capture these stunning photos.

She advised that the RAAF Balloon was expected to operate tethered flights at the CQ NRL Bid Club again on Saturday 7 June.

Certainly a great sight - and an even better sight from 20 metres off the ground!  Thanks Kayanne for sending these lovely photos through!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Virgin Australia B737-700 VH-VBY Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Minus its LiveTV Antenna Radome

When he wasn't chasing the RAAF Balloon (see Blog post below), local plane spotter 'IAD' popped out to Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 4 June and captured some great late afternoon photos of Virgin Australia Boeing B737-700 VH-VBY as it departed to Brisbane as VOZ1248.

Notable about VH-VBY is that it has recently lost the prominent radome for Virgin's LiveTV in-flight entertainment antenna.

VH-VBY is shown below in April this year still with the radome.

File photo taken by Dave  ©

Virgin Australia is progressively rolling out Wireless In-flight Entertainment across its domestic and international short haul fleet.  This state-of-the-art system provides passengers with access to hundreds of hours of movies, TV shows and music, all available on their own device (with restrictions). 

Meanwhile, also captured by 'IAD' late on Wednesday were a pair of hard-working med-evac providers in the form of Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) (Australian Helicopters) Bell 412EP VH-EPR "Rescue 300" and Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Hawker Beechcraft B200 VH-FDM "FlyDoc 478".

Incidentally, the local Rockhampton Morning Bulletin newspaper ran the photo below with the caption that the RFDS CEO was at Rockhampton Airport this week to turn the first sod for the new purpose-built patient transfer facility at Rockhampton Airport.  

The new facility - to be built next to the existing facility on the General Aviation (GA) side of the Airport - will provide patients being transferred to and from Rocky with a more comfortable waiting area for family and carers accompanying them.  The facility is set to be operational later this year.

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

And Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWR Calls into Gladstone Airport on FIFO Duties

Making its second visit in a row to Gladstone Airport on the 9-day cycle of Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight from and back to Brisbane was Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWR.

VH-XWR departs Gladstone  (File photo taken by Jamie  ©)

It called in late on Friday 6 June as UTY650 and departed early Saturday 7 June as UTY651.

It's also worth noting that out at Emerald Airport, Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340B VH-REX operated similar FIFO charter flights from and back to Brisbane on behalf of Pel-Air as PFY9286/9283, touching down Friday afternoon and departing Saturday morning.

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWT Flys into Bundaberg Airport from Townsville on Friday

Making a surprise but welcome visit to Bundaberg Airport on Friday 6 June was Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWT.  The Fokker was believed to be operating a charter flight from and later back to Townsville as UTY551/552.

Alliance F-100 VH-FWI at Bundaberg last year  (File photo taken by Micah S  ©)

Meanwhile, I've noticed that Bundy has played host to several visits by Becker Helicopters Bell 206 helicopters calling into from the Sunshine Coast on what can only be presumed to be pilot training flights.

Choppers noted calling into Bundaberg at various times this week have included VH-NXV, VH-XJQ and VH-WCF.

Becker Helicopters Bell 206s VH-NXB & VH-NXV at Bundaberg last year  (File photo taken by Micah S  ©)

Becker Helicopters Bell 206 choppers have also been noted flying into Maryborough and Hervey Bay Airports this week on similar flights as well.

Thanks to Bundy plane spotter Micah S for the information!

Balmoral Air New Dassault Falcon 2000LX Bizjet VH-WIO Debuts at Hamilton Island Airport Friday

Owned and operated by Hamilton Island owner Bob Oatley, Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO made its first ever arrival at Hamilton Island Airport on Friday 6 June.

File photo taken by Bernie Proctor  ©

VH-WIO arrived from Bankstown and it has seemingly stayed on Hamo despite there being a plan for it to depart on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a couple of other familiar bizjets have moved through some Central Queensland Airports in recent days including the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU which had a busy day of flying on Wednesday 4 June, calling into Mackay Airport and Rockhampton Airport twice.

Also Raytheon 390 Premier 1 N7088S has taken the skies quite a bit in recent days, flying three times to and from Brisbane, along with an overnight stay at Rockhampton.

Spectacular Photos as the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Balloon - VH-LVD - Drifted over Rockhampton Friday Morning

Local plane spotter 'IAD' spent an enjoyable morning - in and out of his car - in pursuit of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) hot-air balloon - Kavanagh Balloons B-105 VH-LVD - as it went for an early morning flight over North Rockhampton early on Friday 6 June.

The balloon gently lifted off from "All Blacks Park" at Lakes Creek and drifted in a generally Northerly direction over Glenmore, towards Parkhurst.  Three members of local media outlets were the lucky passengers to take in the stunning views over the beef capital.

After stopping and taking several photos of the balloon as it drifted along on its journey, 'IAD' managed to capture a quick photos as VH-LVD touched down in a cow paddock!

The RAAF will also be offering tethered flights in the balloon during the afternoon/evening, offering locals the chance to climb in the basket under the Balloon, and rising to around 20-30 metres above ground, to give passengers a 'bird's-eye' view of the beef capital.  Windy conditions prevented this on Thursday night however, so the weather will play a big factor if flights are to go ahead tonight.  The balloon is expected to set-up near the Rockhampton Showgrounds.

Incidentally, the RAAF Balloon has been conducting a tour including parts of Central Queensland.  From Rockhampton, the balloon is expected to grace the skies over Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Childers before heading South through Brisbane.

For more information and great photos do check out the RAAF Balloon Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/RAAF.Balloon

Some spectacular photos from 'IAD', and we sincerely thank him for taking the time to send them through!

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

A Few Atmospheric Night-time Plane Spotting Photos from Gladstone Airport

Local plane spotters Jamie and Tash have sent through some stunning atmospheric night-time photos they've captured over recent weeks at Gladstone Airport.

Some of the photos included are from the recent 'super full moon' which took on a distinctive golden glow as it rose over the industrial city.

 

Some more recent photos included the arrival and departure of an unidentified QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200.

Simply stunning images!

Thanks guys!

Photos taken by Jamie and Tash  ©