Whitsunday Air Services Viking Air Limited (De Havilland) DHC-2 MK I Beaver VH-OHU Crashes in Waters Adjacent to Whitehaven Beach

On Saturday 26 October, the sad sight of Whitsunday Air Services Viking Air Limited (De Havilland) DHC-2 MK I Beaver VH-OHU has crashed into the water adjacent to Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays.

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Reports say the Seaplane crashed upon landing in the water adjacent to Whitehaven Beach at around 8.30am Saturday morning. 

According to eyewitnesses the plane’s pilot was attempting a water landing near the beach when it "nose dived into the water and flipped upside down". 

The crash will be subjected to a full investigation.

It is believed all five people (1 pilot and 4 passengers) aboard the plane which, escaped serious injury. 

A barge was dispatched from Hamilton Island to recover the aircraft.

Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY as "Machflight 38" Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 16 October, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY as "Machflight 38" was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

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While Air Link (Dubbo) Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS landed at Bundaberg Airport from Archerfield.  It then continued up to Bowen Aerodrome.

UPDATE!  On Friday 18 October, VH-ISS finally departed Bowen Aerodrome and returned to Bundaberg Airport and then Archerfield.

And as this post was being written, Air Link (Dubbo) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SEQ was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Mount Isa.  It then departed to Archerfield.

Photo taken by Alan Macdonald  ©

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' Helicopter N48-003 (903) Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 16 October, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' naval combat helicopter N48-003 (Code 903) was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It was heard to be flying as "Tiger 03".

It looked to fly in from off the coast North-East of Bundaberg, firstly heading South-West to near Bundaberg before it then turned North and tracked up the coast low level to land at Rockhampton Airport.

A short time later, N48-003 departed the Rockhampton area for the North-East.

It is believed that N48-003 - seemingly of the RAN's 816 Squadron - is off a Royal Australian Navy ship which appears to be in waters off the Central Queensland coast.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 16 October, fellow RAN Seahawk helicopters N48-002 as "Poseidon 02" and possibly N48-001 "Poseidon 01" were heard and seen on radar in the area.

Meanwhile, during the evening and into the night, also on Wednesday 16 October, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft were noted and spotted completing airwork and landing at a couple of Central Queensland Airports. 

A34-010 as "Wallaby 56" looked to complete airwork around Taroom Aerodrome while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

While A34-003 as "Wallaby 57" and A34-009 as "Wallaby 70" both flew up from Amberley and completed airwork around the Wide Bay area.

As shown, A34-003 "Wallaby 57" completed airwork before then landing at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It then returned to Amberley.  

While A34-009 "Wallaby 70" completed airwork at Hervey Bay and Bundaberg Airports before it too returned to Amberley. 

Photos taken by Steve Vit and James Hackett  ©

New Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB505 Phenom 300 Bizjet VH-NJR Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 15 October, there were a couple of nice corporate bizjets to visit Rockhampton Airport that were believed to be carrying politicians and support staff into the region to join the hustings for the upcoming State Government Election.  

The most notable was the nice still reasonably new Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR which visited Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane.

File photo

Plus McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY "Machflight 421" visited Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

While Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield. 

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" visited Emerald Airport from Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 15 October, Kelsall P/L (Aeronautics and Technology Holdings) Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-PID arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 17 October, VH-PID departed Rockhampton Airport back to Toowoomba.

Townsville Airlines Beech 1900D VH-RUE arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville and then departed to Brisbane. 

And Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX VH-MIF flew up to Middlemount Aerodrome from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and Maryborough Airport before then flying back down to Hervey Bay Airport.

Exercise Wallaby 2024 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLB and V8-DLD Back at Rockhampton Airport Again!

On Tuesday 15 October, both Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLB and V8-DLD were back at Rockhampton Airport as the third 'wave' of heavy jet passenger charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2024 (XWB24) pretty much wrapped up.

B787 V8-DLB as RBA4348 arrived from Singapore and later departed back to there as RBA4349.

And then late in the afternoon, B787 V8-DLD as Brunei RBA4353 arrived from Singapore and later departed back to there as RBA4354.

There is one more charter flight on Wednesday 16 October and then one additional charter flight next Monday 21 October which will wrap up this third 'wave' of flights.  The final 'wave' of heavy jet passenger charter flights kicks off in early November at the conclusion of Exercise Wallaby 2024.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local photographer Steve V for allowing to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-004 Calls into Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 15 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-004 was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

It was heard to be flying as "Dragon 53" and flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to Townsville before then flying down to Rockhampton Airport.  The KC-30 parked on Bay 6 for a crew change before departing back to Amberley.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©️

Luft Aviation Charter (Melbourne) Bombardier BD-700-2A12 Global 7500 Bizjet VH-8LA Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 14 October, a nice first-time visitor to the region in the form of Luft Aviation Charter (Melbourne) Bombardier BD-700-2A12 Global 7500 bizjet VH-8LA was spotted visiting Mackay Airport.

It had departed Cairns for Townville and then flew down to Mackay Airport.  It then departed to Coffs Harbour.  It seems VH-8LA arrived into Cairns from Melbourne (Essendon) the previous day.

Nice!

Meanwhile, also on Monday 14 October, Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK flew up from Orange to the Sunshine Coast and then Bundaberg Airport.  Later, it flew across to Emerald Airport.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 15 October, VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport for Mackay Airport but returned to Emerald Airport later in the day.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 16 October, VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport for Bundaberg Airport before then continuing to the Sunshine Coast and home to Orange.

Shortstop Jet Charter Dassault Falcon 900C bizjet VH-OAA arrived into Bundaberg Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 15 October, VH-OAA departed Bundaberg Airport for Sydney. 

While Rural Funds Management (A.C.T.) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-STE flew up from Canberra and Sydney to land at Rolleston Aerodrome.  It then flew across to Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 15 October, VH-STE departed Rockhampton Airport for Maryborough Airport before later returning to Rocky.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 16 October, VH-STE departed Rockhampton Airport for Natal Downs and then in the afternoon it flew from there to Longreach Airport and then home to Canberra. 

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew up from Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport.  It then departed to the Oaky Creek Mine Site but due to poor visibility, it diverted to Clermont Aerodrome.  During the afternoon, it called into Oaky Creek and the Newlands Coal Mine Site before then returning to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 16 October, VH-VEJ flew back up from Brisbane to the Oaky Creek Mine Site before it flew across to Clermont Aerodrome then back to Brisbane

Southern Air Beech 1900 VH-VSO flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to Toowoomba-Wellcamp and then Moranbah Airport before then flying back to Wellcamp and then onwards to Archerfield.

And Koolardie Aviation (Townsville) Robinson R44 helicopters VH-HLM and VH-HTA flew down from Townsville to Gladstone Airport via Mackay and Rockhampton Airports.

Finally, also on Monday 14 October, Helicorp (Australian Army) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-YBG as "Pegasus 87" visited Mackay Airport from Townsville.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©️

Exercise Wallaby 2024 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLB and V8-DLD Both Call into Rockhampton Airport

As predicted, a busy day at Rockhampton Airport on Monday 14 October with two Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft calling in to both transport personnel and equipment in and out of Rocky in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2024 (XWB24).

During the morning, Dreamliner V8-DLB returned to Rockhampton Airport once again, again touching down direct from Singapore's Changi Airport but as RBA4346.  It later departed back to Changi but as RBA4347.

Later still, fellow Dreamliner V8-DLD made another appearance at Rockhampton Airport during one of the 'waves' of heavy jet passenger charters, touching down from Singapore as RBA4351.

It also later departed back to Singapore but as RBA4352.

As mentioned, both V8-DLB and V8-DLD will most likely return to Rockhampton Airport one final time on Tuesday 15 October which just about wrap up this third 'wave' of charters.  There is another flight expected on Wednesday and then one more at the start of next week but this seems of a stand-alone one-day flight.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotted John L for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by John Lee  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2024 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLB Back at Rockhampton Airport Again!

On Sunday 13 October, Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLB returned to Rockhampton Airport once again, again touching down direct from Singapore's Changi Airport but as RBA4344.

It was parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron and looked to unload and then load fairly full flights of personnel and their bags.

The Dreamliner eventually departed Rockhampton Airport back to Changi but as RBA4345.

As mentioned below, information suggests that on Monday 14 October and Tuesday 15 October, that TWO Royal Brunei Dreamliners again visit Rockhampton Airport at the same time as this third 'wave' of heavy jet passenger charter flights ramps up.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local photographer Steve V for allowing to share this great photo!

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Aerlink ATR 72-500 VH-FVL Spotted at Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 12 October, Aerlink ATR 72-500 VH-FVL was spotted on the ground at Longreach Airport before it later departed to Brisbane as HT855.

As mentioned below, VH-FVL had departed Brisbane on Thursday 10 October for Mackay Airport as HT886 before heading down to Rockhampton Airport and then out to Longreach Airport on Friday 11 October as HT855/4.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 12 October, Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to the Whitsunday Airport at Shiue Harbour.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 13 October, VH-WMY departed Shute Harbour for Adelaide (Parafield) and then back to Moorabbin.

And a pair of LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjets were noted visiting Mackay Airport.  VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" actually made two visits, arriving from Townsville and then departing to Brisbane before returning to Mackay Airport from Brisbane and departing to Cairns and back to Townsville.  While later, VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" visited Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 13 October, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" flew up from Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport before it then departed to Longreach Airport.  It then flew down to Toowoomba-Wellcamp and then back to Rockhampton Airport and then back to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Drew Mackay  ©