Four RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetails Complete Airwork at Various CQ Airports

On Friday 6 November, no less than four Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft were noted completing airwork and missed approaches at various Central Queensland Airports.

A30-001 as "Wedgetail 22" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to the Gold Coast then Rockhampton Airport where it was photographed below.

It then returned to Williamtown via more airwork at Coffs Harbour.

A30-003 as "Wedgetail 23" also flew up from Williamtown to the Gold Coast before completing airwork at Bundaberg Airport.  It too returned to Williamtown but via Tamworth.

A30-006 as "Wedgetail 24" looked to fly up from Williamtown direct to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport where it completed airwork.  It then flew to more airwork at Brisbane before landing at RAAF Base Amberley.  It then returned to Williamtown via Coffs Harbour.

And A30-005 as "Wedgetail 25" also flew up from Williamtown to the Gold Coast before it flew up to Rockhampton Airport where it completed a missed approach.  It then returned to Williamtown also flying via Coffs Harbour.

Of interest, six Wedgetails are flown by the RAAF's No. 2 Squadron out of RAAF Base Williamtown, along a detachment also in the Northern Territory.

Finally, also on Friday 6 November, RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-206 as "Stallion 44" flew up from RAAF Base Amberly to Rockhampton Airport where it was spotted completing a missed approach.

It then returned to Amberly and did more circuits before eventually landing.

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©️

Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQW Calls into CQ Airports - Plus More!

Early on Wednesday 4 November, Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQW was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  

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After spending the day parked, early on Thursday 5 November, VH-TQW departing Rockhampton Airport for Middlemount Aerodrome.  It then flew back to Maryborough and Hervey Bay Airports.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 4 November, Seair Pacific / Istelcote De Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF was again noted at Rockhampton Airport operating the weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) closed charter flight from the Gold Coast and Brisbane to Rocky then up to Collinsville Aerodrome and Townsville.  As usual, VH-ZKF later returned South over the same route.

While down at Bundaberg Airport, Ipswich-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-PLE visited Bundaberg Airport from Archerfield.

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-XDW arrived into Clermont Aerodrome from Toowoomba-Wellcamp.  It returned there early on Thursday 5 November before then flying to Roma Airport and back to Wellcamp.

Photo taken by Dan B  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 Bizjet VH-CXJ "Ambulance 452" Overnight Visit to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport

Very late on Wednesday 4 November, LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-CXJ "Ambulance 452" was looked to visit Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

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It appears the LearJet arrive from Brisbane. Then in the wee small hours of Thursday 5 November, VH-CXJ "Ambulance 452" looked to return to Brisbane.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

QGAir Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-EZJ Ferries North via Gladstone and Mackay Airports

On Wednesday 4 November, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-EZJ was noted ferrying North through Central Queensland Airports. The Agusta initially flew into Gladstone Airport from Archerfield and after taking on fuel it departed to Mackay Airport. VH-EZJ then departed Mackay Airport and continued to Townsville and then Cairns.

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VH-EZJ had ferried South to Archerfield for planned maintenance at the start of October. As we have mentioned previously, this is part of the 'rotational system' the service utilises to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of the QGAir Rescue helicopters. This system avoids the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

Photo taken by 'AC' ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft A34-008 "Wallaby 17" Completes Airwork at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport

On Tuesday 3 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-008 was noted completing airwork at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

Defence Image...

It was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Wallaby 17" and looked to fly up from and then later return to RAAF Base Amberley.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Cessna 208 Carvan VH-TQV "Park Air 7" Pops into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 3 November, a surprise but most welcome visitor to the region in the form of New South Wales (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Service operated Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQV.

Robert Myers / https://commons.wikimedia.org/

The Caravan is registered to AviAir in South Australia but contracted to the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service as "Park Air 7".

It flew up from the Sunshine Coast to Gladstone Airport before then finishing the day at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  

VH-TQV "Park Air 7" had flown up from Bankstown the previous day.

UPDATE!  Over the course of the week, VH-TQV "Park Air 7" looked to continue out West to Mount Isa before heading back towards the coast and landing again at Gladstone Airport on Thursday 5 November.  It remained in the area and was noted at Charleville Airport on Sunday 8 November before then returning to New South Wales.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 3 November, noted making its weekly visit to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour was often visiting American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK which flew up from Archerfield.

UPDATE!  N257AK returned to Archerfield on Thursday 5 November.

And over on Hamilton Island Airport, Nicknak Airways (Sapphire Beach, New South Wales) Hawker Beechcraft G58 VH-FKI looked to arrive from Adelaide and Charleville Airports.

UPDATE!  VH-FKI departed Hamilton Island Airport for Scone and Sydney Airports on Saturday 7 November.

Finally, also on Tuesday 3 November, a couple of familiar Beech B200 King Airs called into CQ Airports once again with Machjet (Machjet International) Beech B200 King Air VH-PUY calling into Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast.  It later departed to Julia Creek and Cloncurry.

And Great Western Aviation Beech B200 VH-XGV made its weekly visit to my local Clermont Aerodrome, arriving from and later departing back to Brisbane.

LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 Bizjet VH-CXJ "Ambulance 452" Overnight Visit to Mackay and Rockhampton Airports

Very late on Monday 2 November, LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-CXJ "Ambulance 452" was noted visiting Mackay and Rockhampton Airports.

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It looked to initially depart Brisbane and fly up to Townsville before then calling into Mackay and then Rockhampton Airports before then returning to Brisbane.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft A34-003 Spotted at Charleville Airport

On Monday 2 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-003 was spotted at Charleville Airport.

The exact movements of the RAAF’s 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter are not known but it appeared to be flying in parts of New South Wales and Queensland and was noted to be flying as "Wallaby 06".

Meanwhile, also on Monday 2 November,  RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 "Wedgetail 04" was noted completing airwork including three missed approaches at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It looked to fly up from RAAF Base Williamtown and then return there via more airwork at RAAF Base Richmond.

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

All photos taken by Zac Fitzgerald  ©️

AVWest Aviation Gulfstream Aerospace G-VI Gulfstream G650 Bizjet N47TR Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport

A nice arrival into Hamilton Island Airport on Sunday 1 November was AVWest Aviation Gulfstream Aerospace G-VI Gulfstream G650 bizjet N47TR.

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The American registered - but Australian operated - bizjet looked to arrive from Ballera in South-West Queensland. 

A the time of writing, it appears that N47TR remains parked at Hamo.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 5 November, N47TR departed Hamilton Island Airport for Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 1 November, Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport for Cairns and Archerfield.  It had arrived from Cairns and Horn Island on Saturday 31 October.

Former Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 VH-JQX Now in Perth with QantasLink / Network Aviation - Plus Some ex-Jetstar Asia A320s Coming too!

I was interested to note that former Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 VH-JQX recently ferried into Perth in Western Australia and has become the fifth A320 to join the fleet of fellow Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation. The A320s look to be primarily used on Network Aviation’s Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight routes.

VH-JQX (MSN 2197) was delivered to Jetstar in August 2004 and actually completed its first flight for the airline operating to Hamilton Island Airport from and back to Melbourne (Tullamarine) on Sunday 15 August 2004.

VH-JQX at Adelaide Airport in 2006

VH-JQX at Adelaide Airport in 2014

VH-JQX also underwent a livery 'update' into the latest Jetstar Airways livery and recently was adorned in stickers promoting the well-known rental car company 'Hertz'.

VH-JQX at Perth Airport in 2019

VH-JQX operated its last Jetstar revenue service on Thursday 26 March and looked to make its final visit to the region operating as JST846/849 from Sydney to Hamilton Island Airport and only on Saturday 21 March.

After some time in storage at Sydney, on Thursday 6 August, VH-JQX was ferried from there to Melbourne (Tullamarine).  On Wednesday 26 August, VH-JQX then looked to ferry from Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Singapore (Seletar) via Darwin for planned maintenance and re-painting into the Qantas / QantasLink 'Silver Roo' livery, becoming the fifth A320 to wear this livery, along with VH-VQS, VH-VQU,VH-JQL and VH-JQG, all of which have taken up operations in Perth with Network Aviation since 2018.

VH-JQX was also named 'Wreath Flower'.

VH-JQX was subsequently ferried from Seletar to Perth (Western Australia), arriving on Friday 16 October. VH-JQX operated its first service with QantasLink / Network Aviation on Monday 26 October when it operated as NWK2642 from Perth to Karratha.

Meanwhile, also recently arriving into Perth from Seletar is another Airbus A320 for QantasLink / Network Aviation in the form of VH-UVO.  It touched down in the Western Australian capital on Wednesday 28 October.

VH-UVO (MSN 2453) has previously operated with Jetstar Airways in Australia as VH-JQH and most recently with Jetstar Asia Airways as 9V-JSF being a frequent international visitor to Perth.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 11 November, VH-UVO, named 'Mottlecah', entered service with with QantasLink / Network Aviation when it operated as NWK2640 from Perth to Karratha.

VH-UVO is the first of five ex-Jetstar Asia airframes that are due to be delivered to QantasLink / Network Aviation.

UPDATES!  VH-UVP (ex 9V-JSH/VH-VQA) named 'Silver Hakea' arrived Thursday 24 December.  VH-UVK (ex 9V-JSA) named 'Geraldton Wax' arrived Wednesday 13 January 2021.  VH-UVJ (ex 9V-JSB) named '???' arrived Friday 2 April 2021.  VH-UVQ (ex 9V-JSE/VH-JQW/VH-XJE) named 'Jarrah' arrived Tuesday 1 June 2021.

Network Aviation operates their Airbus A320s in a 180-seat all-economy configuration on intra-Western Australia charter services. They complement the airline's fleet of 17 Fokker F-100 jets.

Network Aviation (Network) is a West Australian based company that has been providing air charter services since 1998. Over the last 20 years Network Aviation has grown significantly, and in 2011 became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Qantas Group.

Network operates the Airbus A320-200 and has the largest fleet of Fokker 100’s at Perth Airport operating over 300 weekly flights to destinations throughout WA and beyond. Network caters for the resources industry Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO), regular airline services on behalf of Qantas, corporate charter and routine or emergency freight.

Website:  https://www.networkaviation.com.au/

Photos taken by David Rowcroft, Tony Haynes and Lloyd Fox  ©