Australian Border Force (ABF) Cobham Aviation-operated Dash-8-300 VH-ZZF Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

Certainly not a frequent visitor to Central Queensland but Surveillance Australia / Australian Border Force (ABF) Cobham Aviation-operated Dash-8-300 VH-ZZF was spotted resting quietly on the Northern Hardstand at Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 7 March.

VH-ZZF is one of the more rare ABF Dash-8s to grace the skies of Central Queensland with this being its first time featuring on the CQ Plane Spotting Blog.  Of interest, VH-ZZF was noted using the radio callsign of "Borderforce 55".

Sincere thanks to 'IAD' for taking the time capture and send through this great photo!

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi Role Helicopter A40-040 Spotted at Mackay Airport

On Tuesday 7 March, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-040 was spotted parked at Mackay Airport.  It is believed to have flown in from Townsville.

After some time on the ground, A40-040 returned North to Townsville where the Army's 5th Aviation Regiment is based.

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Vanguard Aviation Cessna 525 CitationJet1 VH-DAA Calls into Gladstone and Mackay Airports - Plus a Couple of Other Bizjet Movements

On Tuesday 7 March, Vanguard Aviation Cessna 525 CitationJet1 bizjet VH-DAA was spotted arriving at Gladstone Airport from Archerfield and Brisbane.

After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-DAA departed Gladstone for Mackay Airport, via what appeared to be a 'pass' over the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) North of Rockhampton.

It is still believed to be parked at Mackay Airport.

Meanwhile, departing Mackay Airport also on Tuesday 7 March was the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ.  It headed South to Brisbane.

And locally-based Whitsunday Helicopters Agusta A109E Power VH-KZD was noted also departing Mackay Airport but for Gladstone Airport.

Finally, Brisbane-based Cessna 525A CitationJet2 bizjet VH-MOR was noted calling into Emerald Airport from Archerfield and Goondiwindi.  It headed across to Rockhampton Airport during the late afternoon and appears to be spending the night parked in the beef capital.

All photos taken by 'Mick'  ©

Yakovlev Yak-18T Warbird VH-IBT Pops into Rockhampton Airport

On Monday 6 March, Yakovlev Yak-18T warbird VH-IBT was spotted briefly calling into Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to fly South from Mackay where it appears to be based.

The Russia built warbird is powered by a single Vedeneyev (Ivechenko) M-14P Piston engine.  It was also interesting to note that VH-IBT has its past registration marking (CCCP-44293) and home-country (Kazakhstan) under its current registration marking.  There is also an import badge for Red-Star Aviation.

After taking on fuel, VH-IBT reportedly returned to Mackay Airport.

Thanks to local plane spotters Trevor H and Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and Trevor Hardsman  ©

RAAF Challenger Bizjet A37-003 Calls into Barcaldine Airport - Plus Super King Air A32-439 Completes Airwork at Emerald Airport

On Sunday 5 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet A37-003 was noted visiting Barcaldine Airport.  It touched down from the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport where it had arrived on Saturday 4 March from Sydney.

A37-003 at Rockhampton Airport last year  (File photo)

A37-003 was noted to be using the radio callsign of "Regent 96" and was believed to have brought Australian Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull to town for some engagements.

After about an hour-and-a-half on the ground, A37-003 departed Barcaldine for Melbourne.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 5 March, RAAF Beech 350 Super King Air A32-439 was noted flying South from Townsville and completing a missed approach at Emerald Airport.  The Super King Air then continued to Roma Airport where it looked to land for a brief fuel stop.  It later departed to RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria.  A32-439 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Dingo 6".

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-JFE Operates Qld Rugby League Charter into Mackay Airport

With the start of the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) Intrust Super Cup over the weekend, the locally-based Mackay Cutters played host the Cairns-based Northern Pride.  Consequently, the Pride chartered Alliance Airlines to fly their players and officials into Mackay, with Fokker F-70 jet VH-JFE touching down at Mackay Airport from Cairns on Saturday 4 March as UTY3381.

After the Northerners defeated to locals in what was reportedly a close game, VH-JFE departed Mackay Airport during a tropical rain storm later on Saturday 4 March.  It initially departed to Townsville before continuing a little later back to Cairns.  VH-JFE flew as UTY3382.

Meanwhile, JetGo Australia Airlines recently announced that they have gone into partnership with the Rockhampton Leagues Club Central Queensland Capras for the 2017 season.  With the airline already operating Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) flights into the beef capital, I would assume that this partnership may see extra charter flights over weekend transporting the Capras to and from their various playing venues.  It might also be an opportunity to finally see one of their two new Embraer ERJ-140LR (ERJ-135KL) aircraft - VH-ZJE and VH-ZJG.

RAAF Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-001 "Envoy 65" Completes Airwork at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday

Interesting to note that on Saturday 4 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-001 completed airwork around Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to be on a crew training flight and was heard to be using the radio callsign "Envoy 65".

The BBJ, which is flown by the RAAF's VIP 34 Squadron in Canberra, was noted flying North from Canberra and completing a missed approach at the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport near Toowoomba,  It then continued to Rockhampton where A36-001 completed three missed approach circuits before landing for a period of time.

A36-001 later departed to the Gold Coast.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Kayanne H and 'IAD' for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of a rare weekend visit by a RAAF aircraft!

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and 'IAD'  ©

Queensland Government Hawker 850XP Bizjet VH-SGY Pops into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport

Noted calling into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport early on Saturday 4 March was the Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY.  It touched down from Brisbane

VH-SGY at Bundaberg Airport recently  (File photo)

VH-SGY returned to Brisbane around lunch time.

Photo taken by Micah S  ©

Australasian Jet (AusJet) / ROAMES Cessnas - VH-XBF - VH-FEN - Back in CQ and Spotted at Gladstone Airport

A pair of Australasian Jet (AusJet) / ROAMES Cessna 206s in the form of VH-XBF and VH-FEN are back in Central Queensland and were spotted parked on the Gladstone Airport General Aviation (GA) apron on Friday 3 March.  They have reportedly been operating out of Gladstone Airport for at least this week.

The two Cessnas are operated by AusJet on aerial surveys in support of Ergon Energy’s Remote Observation Automated Modelling Economic Simulation (ROAMES) project.  Both VH-XBF and VH-FEN are regular visitors to CQ and have been joined at times by a third Cessna 206 registered VH-XHI.

ROAMES technology, developed by Ergon Energy and its partner organisations, allows the creation of precise, 3D geo-spatial representations of assets such as electricity networks, and comprises specially modified aircraft with sensors that include photographic and LIDAR distance measuring equipment.  Using GPS and other technology, it enables Ergon to capture and automatically produce accurate three-dimensional models of an electricity distribution network and surrounding vegetation from the air.

Meanwhile, also parked on the Gladstone Airport GA Apron on Friday 3 March was Brisbane-based Beech V35B Bonanza VH-ILY which had earlier arrived from Archerfield.  It returned to Brisbane's GA Airport later in the day.

As can be seen, VH-ILY features famous Beech Model 35 features of retractable landing gear, and its signature V-tail (equipped with a combination elevator-rudder called a ruddervator), which makes it both efficient and the most distinctive light GA aircraft in the sky. 

While we are talking about Gladstone Airport, earlier in the week on Monday 27 February, Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPK was photographed operating the early morning VOZ1707/1710 rotation from and back to Brisbane.

It will certainly be interesting to see if Virgin Australia continue to operate jets into Gladstone Airport once the Embraer E-190s have been withdrawn - perhaps we will see more of the larger Boeing B737-800 aircraft calling in!  Hope so!

All photos taken by 'Mick'  ©

Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi Role Helicopter A40-041 Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

On Wednesday 1 March, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-041 was spotted on approach to Rockhampton Airport.  It was noted flying in from the South.

After taking on fuel, A40-041 departed to Townsville.  It was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Destrier 41".

This is (what I believe to be) yet another new MRH-90 to ferry through Rockhampton Airport heading North to Townsville where the Army's 5th Aviation Regiment is based.  The "Destrier" callsign is used by 'A Squadron' of the 5th Aviation Regiment.

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

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©