Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air Turboprops A32-437 & A32-651 Both Complete Airwork around Roma Airport

On Tuesday 9 March, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air turboprops were noted completing airwork around Roma Airport.

A32-437 flying as "Beaufort 01" looked to depart RAAF Base Amberley and completed some aerial survey work around Roma Airport before then returning to Amberley.

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While at about the same time, A32-651 as "Hudson 07" flew all the way up from RAAF Base East Sale via Dubbo to complete airwork at Roma Airport.  It then departed to the Sunshine Coast.

Photo taken by Graham Aspinall  ©

Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopter A15-309 "Easy 325" Passes Back Through CQ Airports Heading North

A couple of days after it flew South, on Monday 8 March, Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopter A15-309 was noted heading back to Townsville, again passing through a couple of Central Queensland Airports .  

It looked to fly up from Oakey via a missed approach at Gayndah Airport before then landing at Rockhampton Airport.  A15-309 is pictured later departing believed to be direct to Townsville.

Of interest, A15-309 flew South via Mackay and Rockhampton Airports on Saturday 6 March - see Blog post below.

On this occasion, A15-309 was noted flying as "Easy 325/7".

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

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

Linfox Canadair Challenger 605 Bizjet VH-LEF Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 8 March, Linfox Express Charter / Air National Australia Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 VH-LEF was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.  It touched down directly from its Melbourne (Essendon) base.

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At the time of writing, it appears that VH-LEF is staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 13 March, VH-LEF finally departed Hamilton Island Airport, flying down to Melbourne (Avalon) and then Melbourne (Essendon) Airports.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 8 March, Edwards Coaches Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-KXL visited Roma Airport during a busy day in the air.  It arrived from its Armidale base via Sydney and later departed back to Armidale.

VH-KXL later departed to Sydney and the Gold Coast before returning back to Armidale once again.

And the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air, noted departing Mackay Airport for Brisbane.  It looked to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 11 March, N142GZ returned to Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

Finally, slightly smaller, also on Monday 8 March, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane.  It had earlier flown down from Cairns and Townsville and later departed Rocky and returned to Townsville and Cairns.

While on Sunday 7 March, Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-HLL arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns as 'HND615'.  It looked to replace fellow Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-CVN which departed Rocky for Cairns as HND730 on Friday 5 March.

And out West, also on Monday 8 March, Great Western Aviation Beech B200 VH-XGV flew up from Archerfield to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site.  It then flew down to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 9 March, VH-XGV flew into Labona Airstrip again, arriving from and departing to Brisbane.

While Redjet Aviation Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU visited my local Clermont Aerodrome once again from its Toowoomba base but via Roma Airport.  It returned directly to Toowoomba.

And Colville Aviation Services (Torres Strait Air) Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander VH-BNC arrived into Emerald Airport from Horn Island, Coen, Mareeba and Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 9 March, VH-BNC departed Emerald Airport for Archerfield where it appears to have been hangared for planned maintenance.

Photo taken by Tim Burnett  ©

Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopter A15-309 "Easy 329" Passes Through CQ Airports Heading South

On Saturday 6 March, Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopter A15-309 was noted visiting a couple of Central Queensland Airports .  It looked to arrive into Mackay and Rockhampton Airports while on a flight from Townsville all the way down to Oakey.

A15-309 was heard to be flying as "Easy 325/9".

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Local Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 Bizjet N142GZ Back in The Air out of Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 6 March, the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air, noted departing Mackay Airport for Brisbane.

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After a couple of hours on the ground, N142GZ flew back to Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 6 March, Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FNI was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport. It touched down from its Mareeba base via Cairns.

After some time on the ground, VH-FNI looked to return to Cairns.

Finally, also on Saturday 6 March, Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV bizjet VH-NJR looked to once again visit Maryborough Airport.  It looked to arrive from its Brisbane base.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 7 March, it appears that VH-NJR departed Maryborough Airport and returned direct to Brisbane.

And also on Saturday 6 March, slightly our of the region but the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY was noted visiting Winton Airport.  It arrived from Brisbane and later departed to Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 7 March, VH-SGY departed Cairns and returned to Brisbane.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-211 "Stallion 14" Spotted Completing Airwork at Mackay Airport

On Friday 5 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-211 was spotted completing airwork including a missed approach at Mackay Airport.

A41-211 looked to depart RAAF Base Amberley and flew straight up to Mackay. After completing the missed approach, the C-17 then returned to Amberley.

A41-211 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Stallion 14".

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©️

Air Gold Coast Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 Bizjet VH-CDG Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 5 March,  Air Gold Coast Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-CDG was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.  It looked to fly up from Archerfield and the Toowoomba-Wellcamp Airport.

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At the time of writing, it appears that VH-CDG is staying at Hamo for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 7 March, VH-CDG departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Wellcamp and then Archerfield.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 5 March, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ visited from Brisbane.

New South Wales-based Lancair IV-P VH-LWZ also visited Bundaberg Airport but with it arriving from and later departing back to its Albury base.

And Central Auto Sales (Toowoomba) Piper PA-28-236 Dakota arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba and Miles Airports.

Finally, also on Friday 5 March, Brisbane-based FIFO Jet P/L Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ was noted departing the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site.  It flew to the Sunshine Coast and Archerfield.

It appears that VH-FAQ arrived into Labona on Thursday 4 March, arriving from Archerfield via the Sunshine Coast.

Photo taken by Grahame Bann  ©

Bundaberg-based CromAir Cessna 414A Chancellor VH-CBT Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 4 March, Bundaberg-based CromAir Cessna 414A Chancellor VH-CBT was spotted at Rockhampton Airport.  It had earlier flown up from Bundaberg Airport to Rocky before continuing West to Emerald Airport and the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site.

During the afternoon, VH-CBT then reversed the entire flight, finishing the day back at its Bundaberg Airport base.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 4 March, the visiting Torrens Creek (Hughenden) based SOCATA TBM700 VH-CEA departed Rockhampton Airport for Mareeba. It had arrived from Melbourne (Essendon) the previous day.  This aircraft has recently been re-registered from a previously Victorian-based operator.

While locally-based R-Mach Aviation's Lancair 4 VH-VIE (formerly VH-XVP) flew to Griffith in New South Wales and back to Rockhampton Airport.

And Beech 95-B55 VH-MYM flew out from its Gayndah Airport base to Gordon and return. 

Finally, also on Thursday 4 March, Brisbane-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC departed Goonoo Feedlot (South of Comet) to Surat before flying to Archerfield.

And Redjet Aviation Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU visited my local Clermont Aerodrome once again from its Toowoomba base.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Smart Little Hughenden-based SOCATA TBM700 VH-CEA Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 3 March, smart little Torrens Creek (Hughenden) based SOCATA TBM700 VH-CEA was spotted as it arrived into Rockhampton Airport. It looked to fly up directly from Melbourne (Essendon).

At the time of writing, it appears to be spending at least the night parked at Rocky.

VH-CEA has only recently been re-registered to 'Aberfoyle Station' at Torrens Creek near Hughenden after previously operating in Victoria.

UPDATE!   On Thursday 4 March, VH-CEA departed Rockhampton Airport for Mareeba.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 3 March, BPW Aviation / Airspeed Aviation Beech 58 Baron VH-SQC departed Rockhampton Airport for Emerald Airport.  It returned to Rocky later in the day. 

As mentioned below, VH-SQC originally arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Tamworth on Monday 1 March. 

And New South Wales-based Raytheon A36 Bonanza VH-YGM finally departed Rockhampton Airport for Bankstown.  It had arrived from Orange last Friday 26 February.

Finally, also on Wednesday 3 March, AAA Aircraft / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 650 Citation VII bizjet VH-ING was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport.  It looked to fly all the way down to Sydney.

VH-ING had arrived into Hamo from the New South Wales capital last Thursday 25 February - see Blog post below!

And FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB flew up from Toowoomba to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying South to Archerfield and back to Toowoomba. 

While Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 VH-WXN was noted arriving into my local Clermont Aerodrome from Toowoomba-Wellcamp.  It is due to return to Wellcamp early on Thursday 4 March.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-JFB Spotted at Emerald Airport with "Paul Kelly and Friends Dirranbandi" Sticker - Plus Other Alliance Airlines News!

Early on Wednesday 3 March, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-JFB was spotted at Emerald Airport after arriving from Brisbane operating on behalf of Virgin Australia as VOZ1255.

As mentioned, below, VH-JFB was recently adorned with a new sticker on its forward port-side adverting an upcoming charity concert by iconic Australian rock music singer-songwriter, Paul Kelly.

Alliance Airlines continues to operate a single return service each week day between Brisbane and Emerald Airport on behalf of Virgin Australia.

Of interest, this week, on Monday 1 March, Alliance Airlines launched their own independent Regular Public Transport (RPT) flights between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and Emerald Airport.  The UTY4078/4079 service late on Monday 1 March was operated by Fokker F-70 VH-NUY, while the UTY4072/4073 service early on Tuesday 2 March was also operated by Fokker F-70 VH-NUY.

These 'new' services are merely the airlines selling off the remaining seats on what are long-running Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights.

Finally, it's worth noting that also on Monday 1 March, Alliance Airlines Embraer E-190 regional jet VH-UYZ commenced a series of 3-4 daily training and proving flights from and back to Brisbane.

VH-UYZ has been noted completing missed approaches at the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast in recent days, and we hope that a visit into Central Queensland isn't too far away!

VH-UYZ is ex-N922QQ with the former Copa Airlines E-190 being delivered to Alliance Airlines in Brisbane in October 2020.  

Alliance Airlines took delivery of their fourth of 30 E-190 regional jets over this last weekend with N998QQ arriving into Brisbane on Saturday 27 February.  It should become VH-UYO.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Lloyd Fox  ©