Corporate Aircraft Charter (SA) Cessna 550 Citation II Bizjet VH-ZLE Pops into CQ Airports - Plus More!

Late on Thursday 3 September, Corporate Aircraft Charter (South Australia) Cessna 550 Citation II bizjet VH-ZLE was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to arrive from Brisbane.

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After some time on the ground, VH-ZLE departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  As this post is being written, late on Friday 4 September, VH-ZLE is heading back into Central Queensland, flying from Brisbane to Blackall Airport.  It is due to return to Brisbane in the wee small hours of Saturday 5 September.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 4 September, Pekal Aviation of Boggabilla (NSW) Piper PA-31-325 VH-TRA was noted landing at Clermont Aerodrome from Goondiwindi.  It returned there in the afternoon.

While the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was noted visiting Gladstone Airport from Brisbane. 

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Back at Clermont Aerodrome - UPDATED! - Plus More!

On Thursday 3 September, Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was photographed by me visiting my local Clermont Aerodrome.  It is the second visit by the sleek Citation into a Central Queensland Airport this week with VH-MMC also visiting Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 1 September.  VH-MMC is also becoming a fairly regular visitor to my local Clermont Aerodrome with visits occurring every couple of weeks over the previous month or so.

On this occasion, it appears that the passengers from VH-MMC then joined Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-ETF, which had earlier arrived direct from Rockhampton Airport as HND310.

VH-ETF then departed as HND3101 up to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's Carmichael Coal Mine site.  It then returned to Rocky but as HND3110.

At the time of writing, VH-MMC appears to be closed up and staying for the night at Clermont Aerodrome.

UPDATE!  On Friday 4 September, VH-ETF was noted returning to Clermont Aerodrome from Labona as HND331.  It then departed to Rockhampton Airport as HND3311.  While Citation bizjet VH-MMC departed Clermont Aerodrome and returned to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 3 September, another Cessna Citation bizjet an Australian Country Choice Properties (Brisbane) Cessna 560 Citation V Encore bizjet VH-ACC progressed around some of their properties. It departed Opal Creek for Brindley Park then Wellclose and then Babbiloora, West of Carnarvon.

UPDATE!  On Friday 4 September, VH-ACC was noted departing Babbiloora for Roma Airport.

Finally, a few smaller light General Aviation (GA) aircraft and a helicopter to be noted visiting CQ Airports also on Thursday 3 September included Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXN which arrived into Labona from Toowoomba-Wellcamp and looks to be spending the night.

UPDATE!  VH-WXN returned to Wellcamp on Friday 4 September.

Sharp Airlines Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-XBC was noted arriving into Roma Airport from Ballera before it then departed to Moomba as SH340/1.  VH-XBC usually flys closed Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) flights between Ballera and Moomba.

South Australian-based Ted Smith Aerostar 601P VH-YRD was noted departing the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour for the Gold Coast.  It had arrived there from Cairns on Monday 31 August.

And South Australian-based Evalex P/L Cessna 208 VH-JXB landed at Longreach Airport from the Gold Coast. It had flown into there from Adelaide via Charleville Airport last Thursday 27 August and Friday 28 August.

UPDATE!  After spending the night, VH-JXB departed Longreach Airport for ports to the South West on Friday 4 September.

Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 Bizjet VH-ILJ Arrives into Gladstone Airport

On Thursday 3 September, Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-ILJ was noted arriving into Gladstone Airport from Adelaide. It looked to have flown across to the South Australian capital from Brisbane the previous day.

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At the time of writing, it appears that VH-ILJ is staying for at least the night in the Port City.

UPDATE!  On Friday 4 September, VH-ILJ was noted departing Gladstone Airport for Darwin.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Queensland Government Airwing Raytheon Hawker 850XP Bizjet VH-SGY Pops into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport

On Thursday 3 September, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY was noted arriving into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Brisbane.

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After some time on the ground, VH-SGY was noted departing Proserpine Airport and returning to Brisbane.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-034 Passes Through Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 3 September, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-034 was noted passing through Rockhampton Airport.

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It looked to arrive from Brisbane and later depart to Townsville.

A40-034 was heard to be flying as "Destrier 103".

As posted below, on Wednesday 2 September, fellow Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-036 was noted passing through Rockhampton Airport.  It arrived from Townsville and later departed to Brisbane via a missed approach at Bundaberg Airport.  A40-036 was also noted flying as "Destrier 103".

Photo taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

New Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV Bizjet VH-NJR Spotted at Maryborough Airport

On Wednesday 2 September, new Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV bizjet VH-NJR was spotted at Maryborough Airport. The sleek black coloured bizjet looked to arrive from Brisbane.

After a very short time on the ground, VH-NJR departed to the South and looked to possibly land at Warwick.  It then returned to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 6 September, VH-NJR was back at Maryborough Airport, this time touching down from Brisbane via Warwick.  It then returned to Brisbane.

Sincere thanks to David G for capturing and sending through these great photos from Maryborough!

All photos taken by David Geck  ©

Seair Pacific / Istlecote DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF Back on FIFO Run to Rockhampton and Collinsville Airports - Plus More!

After some time away from the region, on Wednesday 2 September, Seair Pacific / Istlecote DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF was noted back on the weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight from the Gold Coast and Brisbane (as shown) to Rockhampton and Collinsville Airports.

On this occasion though, VH-ZKF popped into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before heading to Collinsville Aerodrome and then Townsville.

As usual, VH-ZKF then reversed the flight calling back into Rocky before heading to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Another weekly FIFO run was completed on Wednesday 2 September with FlyPelican (Pelican Airlines) British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3206 (Jetstream 32) turboprop aircraft VH-OTQ back on the run from Rockhampton Airport to Hughenden and Julia Creek.  It flew out on Tuesday 1 September as PE998 and returned to Rocky from Julia Creek early on Wednesday as PE999.

Meanwhile, also noted around the region, also on Wednesday 2 September, was FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB which visited Mount Coolon Airport from Toowoomba.

At Charters Towers Aerodrome, Brisbane-based Altitude Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS completed its weekly FIFO run, arriving from Archerfield also on Wednesday 2 September.  It is due to return South on Thursday 3 September.

Brisbane-based Piper PA-31-350 VH-RPV flew into the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's Carmichael Coal Mine site from Archerfield before departing back there via Emerald Airport.

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXN also flew into Labona but from Toowoomba-Wellcamp.  It is due to return to Wellcamp early on Thursday 3 September.

Finally, sometimes Bundaberg-based Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron N298WA was noted flying into there from the Gold Coast also on Wednesday 2 September.  N298WA returned to the Gold Coast a short time later.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-005 Completes Airwork at Rockhampton Airport

On Wednesday 2 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-005 was photographed as it completed a pair of missed approaches at Rockhampton Airport.

It was flying as "Wedgetail 10" and came up from RAAF Base Williamtown to Rocky before it returned there via another missed approach at RAAF Base Amberley.

Meanwhile, a little earlier also on Wednesday 2 September, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-036 "Destrier 103" was noted passing through Rockhampton Airport.  It arrived from Townsville and later departed to Brisbane via a missed approach at Bundaberg Airport.

And fellow Australian Army MRH-90 helicopter A40-011 was noted flying around Fraser Island while on a flight out of and back to Oakey as "Saxon 38".

Finally, on Tuesday 1 September, RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-006 was noted flying around Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport on training flights out of Amberley as "Wallaby 17".

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

All photos taken by Michael Malick  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" Pops into Emerald Airport

Shortly after midnight on Wednesday 2 September, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" was noted visiting Emerald Airport.  It arrived from Brisbane.

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After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" departed Emerald Airport and returned to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©️

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 1 September, Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was noted back in Central Queensland, this time arriving into Rockhampton Airport from its Sunshine Coast base.

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After a short time on the ground, VH-MMC returned to the Sunny Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 1 September, Ipswich-based 'new' Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-PLE was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport from the Gold Coast.

VH-PLE appears to be the former VH-VTF which was also a frequent visitor to CQ.

Finally, at my local Clermont Aerodrome, also on Tuesday 1 September, Great Western Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-XGV looked to complete what appears to be a weekly visit from Brisbane.